CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): LIBYAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001360

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP
JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC
COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN)
NSC FOR LEDDY
WINPAC FOR WALTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): LIBYAN
RESPONSES ON CW DESTRUCTION PROGRAM

REF: A. STATE 94204

B. DTG 061445Z JULY 07 (NOTAL)

This is CWC-66-07.

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Dr. Hesnawy of the Libyan National Committee
provided a copy of the Detailed Facility Information (DFI)
for the facility the Libyan government is contracting
S.I.P.S.A., an Italian engineering firm, to construct. In
discussions on Libya's decision to terminate its cooperation
with the U.S. on chemical weapons destruction, Hesnawy cited
the indemnification clause and the significant delay in
response from the U.S. contractor earlier this year as
overriding factors. Hesnawy also indicated Libya will likely
be unable to meet its deadline for conversion of the former
production facility at Rabta, and expressed his hope that the
U.S. would provide political support as necessary for Libya.
End Summary.

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NEW LIBYAN PLANS FOR CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION
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2. (SBU) On July 11, in response to reftel, del rep met with
Libyan National Committee representative Dr. Hesnawy and
Libyan Embassy Counselor Mohadeb Gheton, the only member of
the Libyan Embassy (closed earlier this summer) to remain in
The Hague. Hesnawy had traveled to The Hague for a series of
meetings with the OPCW Technical Secretariat (TS) on Libya's
emerging plans for CW destruction. Hesnawy expressed Libya's
desire to continue cooperation with the U.S. and the UK, as
well as his appreciation for U.S. support. He explained that
Libya was simply unable to accept the legal terms of the U.S.
commercial contract, citing the indemnification clause,
specifically the fact that the contractor apparently wanted
to apply New York state law on the destruction site. He also
noted Libyan concerns with the withdrawal clause were based
on a worst-case scenario in which the U.S. pulled out of the
contract at the last minute, leaving Libya to deal with its
ultimate responsibility to destroy its chemical weapons
stockpile by 2012.


3. (SBU) Hesnawy explained that Libya has now chosen to work
with an Italian firm, S.I.P.S.A. Engineering, and later
provided a copy of the Detailed Facility Information and
amendments to del rep (which has been forwarded to
Washington). He seemed quite confident in the reputation and
capabilities of this company and its design, which comprises
an incinerator for the mustard agent and two hydrolysis units
for the precursors. He anticipates destruction beginning as
early as April 2009, and was optimistic that the destruction
program should not run more than fifty days, a projection
based on design capacity and the assumption that no
significant technical difficulties will be encountered.
Construction has not started yet, as the contract still needs
to be finalized and signed.


4. (SBU) Of note was the fact that Libya now intends to build
its destruction facility close to the former production
facility at Rabta, as opposed to collocating it with the
current storage location. Hesnawy explained that the
challenges posed by the lack of nearby water sources,
reliable power supply, and adequate medical facilities for
the treatment of chemical casualties, had all influenced this
decision, but also that the final factor had been that
permits would likely have been denied because the storage
site apparently lies on a major fault line. None of these
factors should be a concern at the new location (coordinates
specified in the DFI).

THE HAGUE 00001360 002 OF 002




5. (SBU) As part of the plan to transport the chemical agent
and precursors to the destruction site, Hesnawy explained
that the mustard agent will be transferred at the storage
facility from its current storage containers to larger,
leak-proof containers. Because of questions about the purity
of the agent, and how this might affect incineration, Hesnawy
said they plan to combine the agent with gas oil in the new
containers. As agent is transferred via a glove box from one
container to another, it will also be quantified by weight
and volume before being mixed with the gas oil, after which
the new containers will be sealed for shipment.

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REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
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6. (SBU) Hesnawy noted that Libya might still require U.S.
assistance, as it plans to use 8-10 Minicams for monitoring
in the toxic area of the destruction facility. Del rep noted
that such a request would need to be made through
appropriate, official channels. Hesnawy also expressed
concern that Libya will be unable to meet its conversion
deadline for the former production facility at Rabta, citing
continuing efforts to remove the sand bag wall outside the
facility perimeter and additional commercial buildings the TS
apparently recently requested Libya declare. Hesnawy told
del rep he hoped the U.S. would provide political support for
Libya as necessary.


7. (U) Ito sends.
GALLAGHER