CWC: DEMARCHE FOR ALLIES REGARDING AN IRANIAN

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000128 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCA, L/NPV, IO/MPR, SECDEF FOR OSD/GSA/CN,CP> JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC COMMERCE FOR BIS (ROBERTS AND DENYER) NSC FOR FLY WINPAC FOR WALTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2059 TAGS: PARM PREL CWC IR SUBJECT: CWC: DEMARCHE FOR ALLIES REGARDING AN IRANIAN INSPECTOR IN THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS REF: A. STATE 15526 ¶B. BEIK-MIKULAK E-MAIL 02/09/2009 Classified By: Janet E. Beik, derived from State 15526 for reasons 1.4 (b),(c) and (d) This is CWC-09-09 1.(S) Executive Council Representative and ISN/CB Director Robert Mikulak delivered the demarche in reftel A on February 20 on the margins of the OPCW Executive Council meetings. Mikulak and Delrep Beik first met with representatives of the UK (John Foggo of the National Authority and delegate Karen Wolstenholme),France (Franck Tecourt of the MFA and delegate Annie Mari),and Germany (Ambassador Werner Burkart and delegate Ruth Surkau). This group of close allies was familiar with the issue of the Iranian inspector's connections to Melli Agrochemical Company and Melli Bank since Mari had first raised French concerns a week earlier (ref b). Mikulak outlined the talking points on the Melli institutions, U.S. and international sanctions, and the U.S. position barring all Iranian inspectors from working in the U.S. Mari and Tecourt confirmed that France had denied entry to France by the inspector in question, Mehrdad Habibi. German Ambassador Burkart said he would convey the additional background information to Berlin, and that Germany would likely also refuse this inspector. He added that Germany has not barred all Iranian inspectors as his government wants to preserved German inspectors' access to Iran. ¶2. (S) Mikulak then met with Australian delegate Mike Byers, Japan's Director-General for Tokyo's Office of Abandoned Chemical Weapons Masanori Nichi and Japanese delegate Takayuki Kitagawa. Both delegations thanked him for the background information but did not indicate what action they might take. Later on February 20, Mikulak shared the information with Canadian delegate Angela Peart, who promised to convey the information to Ottawa. Mikulak also informed OPCW Director of the Inspectorate Division Ichiro Akiyama (Japan) about U.S. concerns over the Iranian inspector's previous employment. ¶3. (U) Director Mikulak has cleared this message. ¶4. (U) Beik sends. GALLAGHER