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

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000924 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 MAY 11 This is CWC-41-07. -------------- TENTH ANNIVERSARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The May 9 events commemorating the tenth anniversary of entry into force of the Convention went off smoothly, and Secretary Rice's message of congratulations was delivered to SIPDIS DG Pfirter. The dedication by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands of a memorial for the victims of chemical weapons attracted modest press attention. Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen, Dutch government officials, and representatives of the member states, international organizations, and the chemical industry also attended the ceremony. DG Pfirter's address to the attendees highlighted both the progress that has been made in implementing the CWC and the challenges which still remain. The OPCW web-site contains a press release listing the various organizations in attendance, as well as other congratulatory statements sent to the OPCW. ¶2. (U) Various cultural and other events were held in connection with the tenth anniversary. The Russian delegation hosted an ITAR-TASS exhibition in the OPCW which included photos of work at various Russian destruction facilities as well as Russian officials involved with CWC issues. The photos will be on display through EC-49. (Note: Russian Ambassador Gevorgian included in his remarks a reference to Russia "having destroyed 20 per cent of its chemical weapons stockpile.") -------------- -------------- INCLUSION OF "QUALITY CONTROL" MEMBER ON INSPECTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) The Technical Secretariat has inquired about the possibility of including an additional "quality control" member on inspections, to evaluate how effectively inspectors are operating in the field. DG Pfirter's intent is to include a staff member from headquarters on at least one of each type of inspection (CWDF, CWSF, Schedule 1, etc.) over the next year, and the TS had indicated its interest in sending an additional team member to a CWSF in the U.S. In response to initial questions from Washington, del rep followed up with Per Runn, Policy Review Branch head. Runn assured the del rep that the intent is for the additional member of the team to be vetted just as any other inspector would be, and that these individuals would also undergo the appropriate training and health and safety certifications. Runn also noted that the TS is prepared to cover all costs for the additional team members. -------------- CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS -------------- ¶4. (U) In previous discussions, Dutch Amb. Maarten Lak had indicated the Netherlands interest in including the Executive Council in the Challenge Inspection exercise it plans to host in September 2007. Reactions to this proposal have been mixed, and del rep met with Per Runn to follow up on suggestions during the Paris meeting of the Close Allies that the DG did not support EC participation. Runn confirmed the del's assumption that DG's concerns were partly based on his experience over the past several years of any TS efforts to maintain readiness to conduct a Challenge Inspection being questioned by key NAM delegations. ¶5. (U) Runn also indicated that the DG is concerned about the lack of consensus among SPs on the idea of an EC exercise; evidently several SPs have already implied that an exercise would be inappropriate without having resolved the "unresolved" Prepcom issues. He also expressed concern at Lak's alternative, which was to convene an ad hoc EC of interested SPs if consensus on an EC exercise could not be reached. Runn noted that this would probably increase suspicions that the TS and "pro-Challenge Inspection" SPs were colluding, and possibly have unpleasant political consequences. ¶6. (U) Runn recommended SPs consider a separate, scripted EC tabletop exercise be run at a later date, independent of the Dutch exercise. He pointed out that this type of exercise could be focused more specifically on the time period during which the EC would have the greatest role to play (receipt of the request, evaluation of the inspection team's report),and perhaps even bring in an actual report from a previous exercise. ¶7. (U) Ito sends. ARNALL