CWC: EC-55 DESTRUCTION INFORMALS

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000143 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: 02/27/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL CWC SUBJECT: CWC: EC-55 DESTRUCTION INFORMALS Classified By: Janet E. Beik for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) This is CWC-12-09. ¶1. (SBU) On February 16, the Destruction Informals session before the 55th Executive Council (EC-55) was opened by the EC Chairperson, Ambassador Oksana Tomova of Slovakia. The meeting consisted of presentations in two parts: details on verification/ implementation by the Technical Secretariat, and reports by States Parties. -------------- TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Dr. Horst Reeps, Director of the Verification Division, reviewed verification activities. He indicated that between EC-54 and February 16, 2009, eight Chemical Weapons Destruction Facilities (CWDFs) were operational: U.S.: 4, Russia: 3, and India: 1. So far possessor States Parties have destroyed 42.76% of Category 1 CW and 52% of Category 2 CW. Category 1 destruction totals are: United States 58%, Russia 30%, India, 98.7% and Libya 0%. Inspections since EC-54 included: 4 CW Production Facility inspections in 3 States Parties, 9 CW Storage Facility inspections in 3 States Parties, 5 Abandoned CW inspections in one State Party. Reeps said that there will be an increase in resources necessary for CW inspections as new CWDFs begin operations. 208 inspections are budgeted for 2009. ¶3. (SBU) The TS has conducted 67 Article VI inspections since EC-54 (26 of them since January 1, 2009),with two Schedule 2 inspections involving sampling and analysis (S&A). As of February 16, the TS has conducted 20 Schedule 2 inspections with S&A. One Schedule 1 inspection included two uncertainties involving material accounting issues. Reeps highlighted the fact that Annual Declarations of Past Activities (ADPA) are still being submitted late (due March 31, but continued to be received until October). 38 out of 90 ADPAs were submitted on time in 2008, an improvement over 2007. Annual Declarations of Anticipated Activities (ADAA) for 2009 (55 of 63) have also shown improvement in on- time receipt since the previous year. Reeps anticipates the rate of timely submissions will improve as national authorities begin submitting data electronically. He also noted that there were two Schedule 1 facility agreements/arrangements before the EC. ¶4. (S) Stephen Wade, Head of the Declarations and Evaluation Branch, presented highlights of submitted documentation. He noted that the United States and Libya had submitted amendments to initial CW declarations. 90-day destruction progress reports were received from India, Libya, Russia and the United States. Changes in converted CW Production Facilities were also received from A State Party (South Korea) and Russia. New Old Chemical Weapons (OCW) finds were reported by China, Japan, Italy, Australia, Belgium, and the UK. Italy submitted its annual plan for the destruction of OCW. Germany reported on destruction of OCW munitions; Wade highlighted that Germany has destroyed c. 12,000 OCW munitions since entry into force. India plans to destroy its former CWPF, part of which was converted for destruction purposes at the Borkhedi destruction facility, later in 2009. Qfacility, later in 2009. ¶5. (SBU) Dominique Anelli, Head of the Chemical Demilitarization Branch, reported that of the 65 CWPFs declared, the current status included 42 destroyed, one used for destruction purposes, 19 converted, and 3 in the process of being converted; 23 are still subject to verification activities. The second CWPF declared at Dzerzhinsk, Russia, is destroyed and a destruction certificate has been issued. Conversion activities continue at Novocheboksarsk, Russia, where work is slow because of extensive Vx contamination. The conversion activities at Libya's former production facility at Rabta should be completed by December 2009. ¶6. (SBU) In Russia, Category 1 CW destruction at Kambarka is at 98.7%. Reaction mass and mutilated munition casings are undergoing thermal treatment at Maradykovsky. Vx at Leonidovka has been neutralized in the munitions, and the resultant reaction mass is being stored on-site. The beginning of operations at Shchuch'ye has been delayed until March 5, 2009. ¶7. (SBU) India has overcome difficulties in destroying the mustard heel in storage containers, and has built a second thermal treatment unit to accelerate destruction of munitions, making it likely that India will meet its 100% destruction deadline of April 29, 2009. ¶8. (SBU) The TS visited the Ruwagha Chemical Reloading Site (RCRS) in Libya in September 2008, but was unable to complete a final engineering review. The TS made an initial visit to the Rabta Toxic Chemical Destruction Facility (RTCDF) in January 2009. Libyan mustard reloading operations from canisters to transportable tanks are currently postponed until mid-March 2009. -------------- PRESENTATIONS BY STATES PARTIES -------------- ¶9. (C) In its presentation, Russia noted that it had so far destroyed 11,987 MT of Category 1 CW (about 30% of its stockpile) and had yet to destroy 28,980 MT as of February 15, 2009. The Russian rep noted that Kambarka had destroyed 6,297 MT or 99% of the Lewisite stored there, and work is now proceeding on non-extractable Lewisite residue. At Maradykovsky, 3,000 MT of reaction mass and 11,000 mutilated munition casings have been thermally treated. The second line in building 1001 is under construction. In the 2nd quarter of 2009, six types of aerial bombs containing sarin, soman and Vx will be destroyed. At Leonidovka, 100% of the 22,743 aerial munitions or 4,413 MT have had their CW contents neutralized. Work is on-going at building 1047 where the reaction mass will be decanted prior to storage on-site. A thermal treatment facility in building 1001 is expected to be completed in the 1st quarter 2009. At Shchuch'ye, construction is completed at Building 1A with work on the second unit ongoing. Pochep construction is to be completed by the end of 2009. Kizner construction is scheduled to be completed in 2010. ¶10. (SBU) For the first time in the Del's collective memory, Russia also presented figures of the financial assistance G-8 members were providing for its CW destruction program. (Such numbers are normally reserved for the Donor Coordinating Meeting hosted twice a year by the Dutch MFA.) For the United States, it showed that of the $1,134,740,000 promised only $470,050,000 had been received. In a private conversation later, Russian rep Elena Rodyushkina explained to U.S. Delreps Qrep Elena Rodyushkina explained to U.S. Delreps that the smaller number applies to items that have been installed or constructed on Russian facilities. This figure is used to demonstrate to Russian officials exactly what has been accomplished so far, and what remains for Russia to finance itself. Russia reiterated its call for any additional assistance possible. ¶11. (SBU) The United States made a short presentation noting that the TS had provided greater detail in its earlier presentation. U.S. Delrep noted that as of February 1, 2009, the U.S. had destroyed 58.1% (16,131 MT) of its Category 1 stockpile. Delrep noted that the Newport CWDF was closed, with the last shipment of reaction mass from Blue Grass having been sent to Texas for incineration. Delrep stated that the four active CW Destruction Facilities (Tooele, Pine Bluff, Anniston and Umatilla) were either destroying or would soon be destroying sulfur mustard. All stocks of nerve agents at these locations have been destroyed; only mustard remains. Anniston and Umatilla are currently retooling for the mustard campaign. Delrep stated that the United States will provide a more detailed report at the EC-56 destruction informals. Iran asked the United States for the expected start-up dates for Pueblo and Blue Grass. Delrep replied that the U.S. was not in a position to speculate about the start-up dates, and noted that representatives of the EC would have an opportunity to see the progress at the Pueblo site during the upcoming EC visit in June. ¶12. (SBU) Libya reported that the TS had visited the Rabta CWPFs under conversion in April and November of 2008. 26 of 30 buildings have now been converted. The internal wall between the two former CWPFs in buildings 17A and B has been removed and conversion should be 90% complete by March 2009. Mechanical completion is expected in September 2009. Libya attributed the delay in startup of the reloading system to delays in receipt of CCTV monitoring and recording equipment. The equipment is now in hand and the start-up of the reloading is expected by March 15, 2009. Iran asked when Libya would begin destroying chemical weapons. The Libyan rep was unable to provide a reply, but noted that more details would be provided in Libya's EC-56 presentation. ¶13. (SBU) India reported that it had destroyed 98% of its CW and expected to meet its April 29, 2009, final destruction deadline. ¶14. (SBU) Masanori Nishi, Director-General of the Japanese Abandoned Chemical Weapons Office, presented the results of trial excavation of Japanese ACW in Pit #2 at Haerba-ling, Jilin Province, China. 641 or 661 munitions excavated were determined to be Japanese in origin. The munitions were stuck together and to the surrounding material and had to be recovered by hand using crow bars. Prospects for fully automated excavation now look less promising. The excavated munitions have been over-packed and stored on-site. The Japanese plan a trial excavation in Pit #1 in the future. Nishi said that, following bidding, Kobe Steel, Ltd had been selected to build the mobile destruction facilities (MDF). Kobe Steel also manufactured the explosive destruction equipment at Poelkapelle, Belgium. The explosive units will be mounted on 40 foot long containers to facilitate movement form site to site. Start-up of the first MDF in Nanjing is scheduled for 2010. ¶15. (SBU) The Chinese Ambassador acknowledged the progress made by Japan, but noted China's Qprogress made by Japan, but noted China's disappointment that at this long period after entry-into-force that not a single ACW had been destroyed and that not a single MDF was yet available. He said that ACW in China continued to pose a danger to the population and that its destruction should have even higher priority that that for destruction of CW stockpiles. He urged Japan to devote more resources to the ACW destruction project to ensure the ACW is destroyed by the 2012 deadline. In a more pointed remark, the Ambassador also mentioned the "scandals" (reports of corruption at Kobe Steel). ¶16. (U) Beik sends. GALLAGHER