FOLLOW-UP TRILATERAL DEMARCHE ON PROPOSED

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000057 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2020 TAGS: PREL PARM UK RS LY SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP TRILATERAL DEMARCHE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO NPT DELIVERED TO LIBYAN MISSION REF: STATE 7931 Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) Per reftel, U.S., Russian and U.K. Deputy PermReps on February 1 delivered the second trilateral demarche to the Deputy PermRep of Libya, Ibrahim Dabbashi, requesting that Libya withdraw its proposed amendments to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Ambassador Wolff presented the demarche on behalf of the NPT depository states. UK Deputy PermRep Philip Parham delivered the following additional, informally agreed text based on the demarche presented in Tripoli earlier in the day: "Agreement of the agenda last year was widely perceived as a very positive development, in stark contrast with the failure of the 2004 Prepcom to produce an agenda. It took the 2005 Review Conference two weeks to adopt an agenda, and in the end it was unable to agree on a consensus document on substantive matters. Having an agreed agenda, without further changes, from the 2009 Prepcom will allow NPT States Parties to begin substantive work early at the upcoming RevCon." ¶2. (C) Dabbashi said he appreciated the depository states' views on Libya's initiative but added that the Libyan Mission must seek guidance from Tripoli. Dabbashi appeared conciliatory, saying that Libya realizes it is difficult to amend the NPT and that if the nuclear-weapon states disagree with the amendments then the initiative will not progress. However, he said that the Non-Aligned Movement is disappointed with the treaty and the pace of nuclear disarmament, notwithstanding the steps undertaken by the U.S. and the Russian Federation, which he underscored are sincere. He added that, in the absence of actual amendments, the substance of the amendments and related ideas should be discussed at the Review Conference in May. He noted that the alternatives to the amendments, as proposed in reftel, might be acceptable to Tripoli. Dabbashi said, "We understand your hesitation about opening the NPT (to amendments),and that is logical," but he said the NPT should treat all signatories equally. RICE