CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): HOST COUNTRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 098906 SIPDIS THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018 TAGS: GR KTIA PARM PREL CWC SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT (HCA) WITH GREECE (SBU) REF: THE HAGUE 000425 Classified By: ISN/CB Office Director Robert Mikulak, reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) Action request in paragraph 8. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. (C-Rel Greece) Department requests Embassy to pursue the following objectives: -- Work with the Government of Greece to negotiate a Host Country Agreement (HCA) on the conduct of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) challenge inspections before a challenge inspection occurs. -- Set up a meeting between U.S. and Greek officials during the CWC Conference of the States Parties in The Hague scheduled to take place 2-5 December 2008. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶3. (U) Embassy should report results of discussions with Greek Officials by cable to ISN/CB Eugene Klimson by October 17, 2008. -------------- Background -------------- ¶4. (C-REL Greece) The United States began negotiating an HCA with Greece on the conduct of CWC challenge inspections in ¶1997. The United States sent a revised draft to Greece in ¶2005. Since 2007, the United States has been trying to revive negotiations with Greece. ¶5. (C-Rel Greece) During the CWC Review Conference that took place in April 2008, U.S. and Greek officials met to discuss the current CWC HCA draft agreement (REFTEL). Greek representative Prof. Ionnis Seimenis explained that he had no instructions on a position at that time, but would take up the matter over the next three months and would be ready to discuss the draft HCA at the next CWC Executive Council. Seimenis also noted that he would need to educate the Greek Government on challenge inspection issues. U.S. officials provided a copy of HCA training materials to assist Prof. Seimenis when briefing Greek officials and a copy of the current draft HCA text for his reference. ¶6. (C-Rel Greece) Due to budget shortfalls, the United States needed to delay meeting with Greece on HCAs until the 2008 Conference of the States Parties. The United States would like to meet with Greek officials during the upcoming 2008 CWC Conference of the States Parties. -------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶7. (U) Please contact ISN/CB Eugene Klimson at (202) 647-5156 or via email for any further background needed to meet our objectives. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶8. (U) Drawing upon the background and suggested talking points in paragraph 9, Embassy Athens is requested to deliver talking points to the appropriate Greek official(s). -------------- TALKING POINTS -------------- ¶9. (C-Rel Greece) Begin talking points: - The United States appreciates Greece,s continued cooperation in negotiating and working towards conclusion of a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Host Country agreement. - During our meeting at the Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference in April 2008, a U.S. delegation member met with your representative, Prof. Ionnis Seimenis, to discuss our draft Host Country Agreement for Chemical Weapons Challenge Inspections. - During that meeting, Prof. Seimenis noted there was no formal Greek position on the U.S. draft proposal, but he said he would continue to work the matter and would welcome a meeting at a later date. - U.S. experts will be in The Hague to attend the Chemical Weapons Convention Conference of the States Parties in December 2008. - We encourage your government to finish its review so that we could hold substantive discussions at that time. End talking points. RICE