CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): INFORMATION

UNCLAS STATE 023254

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW IZ
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): INFORMATION
FOR IRAQI PREPARATION FOR EC-56 (APRIL 21-24, 2009)

REF: A. 2009 THE HAGUE 104 (MEETING WITH IRAQI DELEGATION)

B. 2009 THE HAGUE 129 (MEETINGS ON IRAQ'S ACCESSION
ON THE MARGINS OF EC-55: FEBRUARY 17-20

C. 2009)

D. 2009 STATE 011851 (INFORMATION ON RECOVERED
CHEMICAL WEAPONS)


1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Baghdad, The
Hague for the CWC Delegation and Embassy London; see
paragraphs 6 and 7. The contents of this cable are sensitive
but unclassified; please protect accordingly.

--------------
Background
--------------


2. (SBU) Iraq submitted its instrument of accession to the
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on January 13, 2009, and
became a CWC State Party on February 12, 2009. We expect Iraq
to submit its initial declaration to the Technical
Secretariat (T.S.) of the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on schedule (by March 14, 2009).
(NOTE: The non-paper below is based on the assumption that
the Government of Iraq (GOI) will declare as a possessor
state and provide a classified initial declaration. END NOTE)
We also expect that Iraq,s OPCW classified initial
declaration will be made available to other States Parties,
on request, prior to the 56th Session of the Executive
Council (EC-56, April 21-24, 2009). Iraqi officials in The
Hague have indicated that Iraq plans to make a detailed
presentation on its past CW program during the Destruction
Informals (prior to EC-56) on April 20, 2009. Iraq may also
make a statement during the General Debate of EC-56. These
two occasions will be the first opportunities for Iraq to
address the CW program of the former regime and to present a
plan for meeting its CWC obligations.


3. (SBU) In recent meetings with members of the U.S.
Delegation to the CWC, Iraqi representatives have shown a
basic understanding of the importance of their April 20, 2009
presentation, but have not put forth a clear plan for
ensuring adequate preparation for their EC-56 interactions or
for the attendance and participation of Iraqi experts from
Baghdad (Refs. A and B). Several States Parties, including
Iran, have informally raised questions about the past program
and are expected to engage the Iraqi delegation on specific
issues during EC-56. While Iraq may escape scrutiny at the
April EC, States Parties are likely to focus increasingly on
CWC implementation in Iraq; now is the time to prepare.


4. (SBU) One of the key areas for U.S.)Iraqi coordination in
these discussions is the declaration and destruction of the
pre-1991 production chemical munitions periodically recovered
by U.S. and other Coalition Forces in Iraq since 2003. The
security situation in Iraq dictated that destruction of these
recovered chemical weapons (RCW) be accomplished on an
expedited basis to ensure the safety and security of the
Iraqi People and Coalition Forces. RCW recovered by U.S.
Forces before February 12, 2009 will be declared by the
United States and included in a supplement to the U.S.
declaration, which will be submitted as soon as practical. We
plan to present information on the U.S. supplement during the
destruction informals before EC-56, and anticipate that the
United Kingdom (UK) will similarly announce a supplemental
declaration for its RCW. Declaration and destruction of RCW
recovered by U.S. forces from February 12, 2009 forward is
the responsibility of Iraq (Ref. C).


5. (SBU) The United States and UK have worked closely with
Iraq since 2005 in preparation for its CWC accession, and
will continue to assist with Iraqi CWC implementation. Our
goal is to meld a technically sound, functional and
independent Iraqi CWC implementation team, both in Baghdad
and in The Hague. The interagency has prepared a non-paper
for the GOI that provides suggested action by the GOI in
preparation for EC-56. Implementing these suggested actions
will be coordinated with the UK.

--------------
ACTION REQUEST
--------------


6. (U) The Department requests that Embassy Baghdad and the
U.S. Delegation to the OPCW deliver the non-paper in
paragraph 7 to Iraqi CWC National Authority representatives
in Baghdad and to Ambassador Siamand Banaa in The Hague,
respectively. Embassy London is requested to deliver the
non-paper to appropriate representatives in the UK Foreign
and Commonwealth Office. Embassy Baghdad, the CWC Delegation,
and Embassy London should inform their UK contacts of the two
other deliveries, and report any response to the non-paper.


7. (SBU) Text of Non-Paper: Iraqi Preparation for EC-56

The April 20, 2009, presentation during the Destruction
Informals prior to the 56th Session of the Executive Council
(EC-56, April 21-24, 2009) will provide the first opportunity
for the Government of Iraq (GOI) to address the chemical
weapons (CW) program of the former regime and to present a
plan for meeting its Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
obligations. We suggest that the GOI fully utilize the
assistance available from the Technical Secretariat (T.S.),
United States, and United Kingdom in preparing for this
important presentation.

Several States Parties have raised questions about Iraq,s
declaration prior to its submission, and likely will want to
address these and other questions with the GOI delegation
during EC-56. We suggest that Iraq ensure that appropriate
experts from Baghdad are present during the Informals and the
Session of EC-56, and are prepared to respond appropriately
to States Parties, questions.

Full transparency during the Informals presentation is
essential for States Parties to understand the historical CW
program and current conditions of the declared CW.
Photographs and other visual documentation showing the
conditions of the CW in storage and of the former CW
production facilities will be helpful in conveying a clear
understanding of the past Iraqi CW program to all States
Parties.

An important topic for the GOI informals presentation is the
GOI plan for reporting on chemical munitions recovered from
February 12 forward. The U.S. delegation will work with the
Iraqi delegation to ensure that U.S., UK, and Iraqi actions
are clearly presented.

In informal discussion during EC-55, representatives of the
Technical Secretariat indicated their willingness to meet
with Iraqi representatives prior to EC-56 to assist in
preparation for the GOI,s presentation during the
destruction informals. We suggest that the GOI take full
advantage of this opportunity by scheduling a working session
with T.S., U.S. and UK representatives for April 16 and 17,
2009 in The Hague. We suggest that Iraqi EC-56 delegation
members from Baghdad arrive in The Hague on Wednesday, April
15, 2009.

Topics for discussion with the T.S. should include the
content of the Iraqi Destruction Informals presentation,
planning for inspections, and development of the General Plan
for Destruction of Chemical Weapons.

- We suggest that Iraqi delegation finalize the planned
informals presentation with assistance from the T.S, UK and
U.S. representatives.

- May and June 2009 have been suggested as possible dates for
initial inspections in Iraq. The T.S. has expressed
uncertainty about security issues during inspections. The
Iraqi delegation should be prepared to make a definitive
statement about the GOI,s ability to ensure the safety and
security of inspectors during initial and other inspection
activities.

- Developing Iraq,s plan for CW destruction will be
unusually difficult due to practical issues and challenges
surrounding the storage of the items. The GOI should work to
have a preliminary plan available for discussion with T.S.,
U.S. and UK representatives for the April 16-17 working
session in The Hague.

End non-paper text.


8. (U) The point-of-contact for this action is Tom Ferguson,
ISN/CB, (202-647-9650, fergusontl@state.sgov.gov).
CLINTON