Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE661
2007-04-11 11:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PARM PREL CWC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHTC #0661/01 1011158
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111158Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8798
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000661 

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SENSITIVE
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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
PERIOD MARCH 26-APRIL 6

This is CWC-30-07.

--------------------
OPCW EQUIPMENT STORE
--------------------

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000661

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): WRAP-UP FOR THE
PERIOD MARCH 26-APRIL 6

This is CWC-30-07.

--------------
OPCW EQUIPMENT STORE
--------------


1. (SBU) Gary Mallard (Head, OPCW Laboratory) provided the
Del with an update on this issue, which he recently raised
with the Del. Mallard initially had reported that there was
consideration of moving the OPCW Equipment Store from under
the Technical Support Branch (TSB) to the Operations and
Planning Branch (OPB) within the Inspectorate. Mallard
subsequently was told by his supervisors that, given the
scrutiny any such reorganization proposal would receive
during the budget approval process, the move would not/not be
given further consideration this year.

--------------
MEETING WITH TS HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION
--------------


2. (U) Del reps met with Ron Nelson, head of Administration,
on March 28 to go over general admin issues. Del reps noted
that we hoped to provide good Amcit candidates for the P-5
Head of Budget and Finance position and the P-5 Head of Media
and Public Affairs position. Nelson said the number of people
who had resigned from the Technical Secretariat has appeared
to level-off after 11 people resigned in January. According
to Nelson, as of March 28, only 14 people had resigned so far
this year. (Note: Del rep got a slightly different picture
from departing BFB chief Rick Martin who, after his last day
at the TS, told us that the actually number of resignations
as of March 28 was probably closer to 22. End Note.)


3. (U) On budget issues, Nelson told us that if the TS
received a small payment from the U.S. in April-May and no
additional payments from the U.S. or Japan, it would have to
consider tapping the Working Capital Fund possibly as early
as September-October.


4. (U) Given the particular concern about the loss of
highly-qualified inspectors to the tenure policy, del reps
solicited Nelson's thoughts on possible solutions. He
outlined a few that he has considered, but said that none of
these were particularly easy to sell to the Director General
and, subsequently, to delegations.


5. (SBU) Del rep presented another option for consideration

-- allowing the 3-7 year tenure clock to restart when a staff
member receives a promotion. Nelson thought the idea had
merit for a number of reasons:
(1) it would have the biggest impact on the group of most
concern -- the Inspectorate;
(2) it would be seen, nevertheless, as a general policy and
not be perceived as selective or discriminatory or favoring
just one group;
(3) it would be a relatively small modification to the
existing policy, even if its impact is far-reaching; and
(4) it would provide the greatest benefit to the most-senior
(P-5) inspection team leaders.


6. (SBU) Nelson noted that this would not necessarily
relieve all of the pressure on the Inspectorate. For
example, if an inspector were hired at the P-3 level,
subsequently promoted to P-4 at about the 2-year point in
his/her contract (which is typical),and then not promoted
further, the net result of the change would be a maximum
increase in tenure for that inspector of two years. However,
even though a select group of inspectors make it to the P-5
level and receive the greatest benefit from this change, we
could still preserve the most experienced and, hopefully,
best-performing inspectors. Nelson was also quick to point
out that he thinks that such a change would not be something
the DG could do unilaterally but would need to bring before
the EC. That is not likely to happen before 2008. He
clearly was intrigued by the proposal and agreed to consider
it further and share his thoughts with the Del.

--------------
OIO/EXTERNAL AUDITOR REPORT CONSULTATIONS
--------------


7. (U) Consultations were held by outgoing facilitator Rick
Snelsire (U.S.) on March 27. The facilitator went through
the two documents, asking for clarification on only one item
on the Office of Internal Oversight report. He asked if the
TS had found a solution to the problem of TS employees

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carrying a large amount of cash for seminars and workshops in
third world countries. Mohammed Louati, head of OIO,
responded by saying often there is no other choice, though
they have been able to reduce the need for carrying cash.
They are researching whether they can utilize the facilities
of other UN organizations and perhaps borrow cash. Ron
Nelson said he has researched using the UNDP cash points, but
has been told by them this is not possible. The TS continues
to make progress and will continue to work to try to remedy
this situation.


8. (U) After the run-through was completed, a couple
delegations asked for clarifications to certain items on the
reports. Japan asked if there had in fact been 57 breaches
of confidentiality reported. Louati said that he was unaware
of 57 breaches of confidentiality. (Note: In a subsequent
conversation with TS representatives it became clear that the
57 breaches that Japan was referring to involved infractions
by delegations over an extended period of time not violations
by the TS.)


9. (U) Japan also asked for an assessment of the Quality
Management System. The TS responded by saying that this
system is mainly used by the laboratory and OIO to be in
compliance with specific technical standards. They believe
it is working well; it has been accredited by the Dutch
Accreditation Body and is well maintained by the TS. On the
External Auditor Report, Japan wanted to know what was left
to implement in Results Based Budgeting. The TS said they
have made progress and recently made an assessment of how
they achieved RBB in the 2006 program and budget. They are
preparing the 2008 program and budget using the RBB apparatus
and are using the assessment to make changes to improve the
use of RBB. This year, they are preparing information to
focus RBB to the individual person within a branch and are
working on the steps toward Results Based Management.


10. (U) France asked about the Travel Program change. The TS
explained that the old system was underperforming and there
had been payment problems. They put the travel program out
to bid and believe the new agency, Carlson Wagonlit, will
offer improved services and costs. France also asked about
unliquidated obligations asking how much there was from one
year to the other. The TS said in 2006 there was 5.9
million, and in 2005 5.7 million. They said they are trying
to only carry forward what is needed. The TS also had to
again explain again about SMARTStream. The final French
question was about how much outsourcing of services is done.
The TS responded by saying the main outsourcing is the
investment program of the Provident Fund for the individual
staff members of the OPCW. Noting that they put it out to
bid and ABN-AMRO won, they are putting the money into very
conservative individual savings accounts that cannot be
touched by the staff until they leave OPCW employment.
Travel is outsourced as noted previously, as well as
gardening, cleaning and some building maintenance, some
security upgrades, and some Information Systems maintenance.


11. (U) The consultation ended with a note that the OIO and
External Auditor Reports for 2006 will be released in early
May.


12. (U) Javits sends.
ARNALL