CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): WRAP-UP FOR THE

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000160 SIPDIS 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): WRAP-UP FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 26 This is CWC-07-07. -------------- ARTICLE VII -------------- ¶1. (U) Facilitator Maartin Lak (Netherlands) held a January 25 consultation to review 2006 accomplishments and taskings for 2007 work. Lak noted A/S Commerce Padilla's initiative and called for states to assist implementing states, focusing on those states with industries, but remain without legislation. Finally, Lak noted the special relationship former colonial powers have with their former colonies, and welcomed initiatives between these groups. ¶2. (U) Technical Secretariat Legal Advisor Santiago Onate reported on implementation progress made since November 1, ¶2006. There was no change in the number of National Authorities established; the count remains 172 (95 percent). Two states made Article VII paragraph 5 submissions (total of 114 or 63 percent),and three more have legislation that covers all key areas (Andorra, Bangladesh, and Senegal, 75 states or 41 percent). Turkey's legislation entered into force. The UAE has partial implementing legislation; what remains for the UAE is logistical, tying together the remaining federal elements. With respect to export controls, five states have incorporated criminal/legal sanctions if their industries have not made declarations. ¶3. (U) Onate then reported that the Director General informed all states of the sustained follow-on to the plan of action via Note Verbale dated December 15. The TS is regularly updating its databases on the external server (last update January 15, 2007). With regard to Technical Assistance Visits, the TS sent a team to Liberia on January 11-12, meeting with government officials and parliamentarians to review its draft legislation. In February, the TS plans TAVs to Azerbaijan and Ecuador, to finalize their draft legislation, work with Parliamentarians, and to hold a workshop on declarations. ¶4. (U) A legal TAV to Malawi also is planned for mid-March. The TS will send a team to the meeting of the GCC in Oman to support Qatar's efforts to present its legislation to Parliament, finalize the draft Omani legislation, review Bahrain's legislation just prior to its presentation to Parliament, and to sort out export/import issues with Saudi Arabia. Finally, the TS is planning TAVs to Chile in late May and to Kenya in April. ¶5. (U) Lak then asked for delegates' views on how best to assist implementing countries, suggesting that one way might be to enhance interactions with Parliamentary unions. The Netherlands responded with a brief summary of a training course in Surinam, and Belgium responded with a long-winded account of its efforts in its former colonies (not always well-received by the colonies). Australia/Japan announced that, at the request of Indonesia, they are jointly hosting an industry outreach seminar in Jakarta 26-27 February. ¶6. (U) Japan also noted that Indonesia requested that it translate its implementing legislation and its NA's website into English - an effort that is now underway. The UK discussed its recent training for 19 states on industry declarations and inspection support. Algeria noted that, although it has a colonist past, it is well placed and available to offer aid to African states. Cuba also noted that it is ready to assist implementation efforts of GRULAC states. ¶7. (U) Javits sends. ARNALL