Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE107329
2009-10-16 01:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
CWC: SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR THE U.S. DELEGATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #7329 2890219 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 160159Z OCT 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 6634
UNCLAS STATE 107329
SENSITIVE
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW
SUBJECT: CWC: SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR THE U.S. DELEGATION
TO THE 58th SESSION OF THE OPCW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(OCTOBER 13-16, 2009)
REF: STATE 103181 (CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC):
GUIDANCE ON THE OCTOBER 5, 2009 STRAW-POLL VOTE FOR THE
NEXT OPCW DIRECTOR-GENERAL).
UNCLAS STATE 107329
SENSITIVE
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW
SUBJECT: CWC: SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR THE U.S. DELEGATION
TO THE 58th SESSION OF THE OPCW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(OCTOBER 13-16, 2009)
REF: STATE 103181 (CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC):
GUIDANCE ON THE OCTOBER 5, 2009 STRAW-POLL VOTE FOR THE
NEXT OPCW DIRECTOR-GENERAL).
1. (SBU) Summary: The contest for OPCW Director-
General is unexpectedly coming to a rapid conclusion.
As a result of the fifth straw poll, conducted Thursday,
October 15, the Turkish candidate (Ahmet Uzumcu) is the
clear leader. Further straw polls will be conducted on
Friday, October 16, to determine the winner. Del
assesses that it will be Uzumcu. Del requests guidance
to support Uzumcu in any further straw polls or votes.
Guidance is needed by OOB, Hague time, on Friday,
October 16.
2. (SBU) The British candidate, current OPCW Deputy
Director John Freeman, withdrew before the October 15
straw poll due to his weak showing in the October 14
straw poll. The October 15 straw poll results (first
preferences) are as follows: Uzumcu (Turkey) - 21
votes; Dani (Algeria) 11 votes; and Gottwald (Germany)-
9 votes. Twenty-eight votes (two-thirds of the 41
members of the Executive Council) are required for
selection. All six of Freeman's votes from the previous
day went to Uzumcu, even though a number of them were
clearly from European delegations.
3. (SBU) Reference guidance indicates that Uzumcu is
acceptable to the United States as Director-General, but
that Del should give preference to German Director of
Disarmament Hans-Peter Gottwald. In the five straw
polls conducted up to now, Del has done so. The
Executive Council chairman plans to continue the straw
polls on Friday, October 16 until a winner is selected.
Based on the October 15 results, Gottwald is likely to
be eliminated in the next straw poll since he placed
third (out of three) in "first preferences."
4. (SBU) If authorized to support Uzumcu, Del will seek
to orchestrate a dignified consensus outcome. Rather
than a series of straw polls that would embarrass
Gottwald and Dani, Del would work to get Germany and
Algeria to throw their support to Uzumcu, who clearly is
acceptable to all delegations.
5. (U) Washington concurs with the delegation's
recommendation. Del is authorized to support Uzumcu and
proceed as outlined above.
CLINTON
SENSITIVE
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW
SUBJECT: CWC: SPECIAL GUIDANCE FOR THE U.S. DELEGATION
TO THE 58th SESSION OF THE OPCW EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(OCTOBER 13-16, 2009)
REF: STATE 103181 (CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC):
GUIDANCE ON THE OCTOBER 5, 2009 STRAW-POLL VOTE FOR THE
NEXT OPCW DIRECTOR-GENERAL).
1. (SBU) Summary: The contest for OPCW Director-
General is unexpectedly coming to a rapid conclusion.
As a result of the fifth straw poll, conducted Thursday,
October 15, the Turkish candidate (Ahmet Uzumcu) is the
clear leader. Further straw polls will be conducted on
Friday, October 16, to determine the winner. Del
assesses that it will be Uzumcu. Del requests guidance
to support Uzumcu in any further straw polls or votes.
Guidance is needed by OOB, Hague time, on Friday,
October 16.
2. (SBU) The British candidate, current OPCW Deputy
Director John Freeman, withdrew before the October 15
straw poll due to his weak showing in the October 14
straw poll. The October 15 straw poll results (first
preferences) are as follows: Uzumcu (Turkey) - 21
votes; Dani (Algeria) 11 votes; and Gottwald (Germany)-
9 votes. Twenty-eight votes (two-thirds of the 41
members of the Executive Council) are required for
selection. All six of Freeman's votes from the previous
day went to Uzumcu, even though a number of them were
clearly from European delegations.
3. (SBU) Reference guidance indicates that Uzumcu is
acceptable to the United States as Director-General, but
that Del should give preference to German Director of
Disarmament Hans-Peter Gottwald. In the five straw
polls conducted up to now, Del has done so. The
Executive Council chairman plans to continue the straw
polls on Friday, October 16 until a winner is selected.
Based on the October 15 results, Gottwald is likely to
be eliminated in the next straw poll since he placed
third (out of three) in "first preferences."
4. (SBU) If authorized to support Uzumcu, Del will seek
to orchestrate a dignified consensus outcome. Rather
than a series of straw polls that would embarrass
Gottwald and Dani, Del would work to get Germany and
Algeria to throw their support to Uzumcu, who clearly is
acceptable to all delegations.
5. (U) Washington concurs with the delegation's
recommendation. Del is authorized to support Uzumcu and
proceed as outlined above.
CLINTON