VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #2487/01 3251601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211601Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7486
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S 
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP 
JOINTSTAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC 
COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN) 
NSC FOR DICASAGRANDE 
WINPAC FOR WALTER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): EXTENSION 
REQUEST -- PROPOSED TEXT ON VISITS 
 
This is CWC-105-06. 
 
¶1.  (U) On November 20, Ambassador Javits, Ambassador Parker 
(UK) and Ambassador Gevorgian (Russia) reached agreement on 
the text in para 2 on a draft decision document concerning 
visits by Executive Council representatives to CW destruction 
facilities.  Delegation believes the text is in accordance 
with existing guidance and submits it to Washington. 
 
¶2.  (U) Begin Text of Draft Decision Document: 
 
Draft Decision on Visits by Representatives of the Executive 
Council to Chemical Weapons Destruction Facilities 
 
The Executive Council, 
 
Recalling that, pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 2 of the 
Chemical Weapons Convention (hereinafter the &Convention8), 
each State Party undertakes to destroy chemical weapons it 
owns or possesses in accordance with the provisions of the 
Convention; 
 
Recalling also that, according to Article IV, paragraph 6 of 
the  Convention each State Party shall destroy all chemical 
weapons specified in paragraph 1 of that Article pursuant to 
the Verification Annex to the Convention (hereinafter the 
&Verification Annex8) and in accordance with the agreed 
rate and sequence of destruction; 
 
Bearing in mind the stipulations in Part IV (A), paragraph 26 
of the Verification Annex that any extension shall be the 
minimum necessary, and that in no case shall the deadline for 
a State Party to complete the destruction of its chemical 
weapons be extended beyond 15 years after entry into force of 
the Convention (29 April 2012); 
 
Bearing in mind also the stipulation in the same paragraph 
that the Executive Council (hereinafter the &Council8) 
shall set conditions for the granting of the extension, 
including the specific verification measures deemed 
necessary, as well as specific actions to be taken by the 
State Party to overcome problems in its destruction programme; 
 
Taking into account the difficulties that States Parties 
possessing chemical weapons stockpiles face in the 
destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles; 
 
Welcoming the proposal to organise visits by the Council 
Chairperson and representatives of Council members to 
Chemical Weapons Destruction Facilities and/or CWDF 
construction sites as an opportunity for members of the 
Executive Council to consider progress and efforts towards 
meeting extended deadlines, and any measures being taken to 
overcome possible problems in a destruction programme in 
accordance with Part IV (A), paragraph 26 of the Verification 
Annex; 
 
Noting that such visits, offered by States Parties 
voluntarily, could be a useful additional transparency and 
confidence building measure on the part of States Parties 
possessing chemical weapons stockpiles; 
 
Welcoming the understanding of both the United States and 
Russian Federation that each will host such visits 
periodically, preferably with each relevant facility being 
visited at least once during the extension period; 
 
The Council 
 
Agrees that such visits should take place, as a means of 
addressing questions or concerns about a State Party,s 
destruction programme that relate to its extended deadlines; 
 
Requests the Council Chairperson to consult with the State 
Party concerned and agree on the detailed arrangements for 
each specific visit (e.g. site location(s), timing, schedule, 
itinerary, composition of visiting group, and safety 
requirements); 
 
Determines that the visits should be carried out without 
disruption to the destruction activities and with full 
observance of the destruction facilities, safety procedures; 
 
Decides that the visiting groups should comprise:  the 
Council Chairperson (or a Vice-Chairperson); a representative 
from each of the other regional groups; a representative from 
another State Party hosting such visits; a senior 
representative from the Technical Secretariat; and, if 
necessary, a Technical Secretariat interpreter; 
 
Agrees that the visits should include discussions with senior 
representatives of relevant authorities about the State 
Party,s destruction programme. 
 
Decides that the Technical Secretariat shall cover the costs 
of its own staff and the Council Chairperson (or a 
Vice-Chairperson) and that all other participants shall meet 
their own costs; 
 
Requests the Council Chairperson (or a Vice-Chairperson) to 
coordinate preparation by the group of their Report on the 
particular visit; 
 
Decides that the host State Party shall have an opportunity 
to review and comment on the draft Report, prior to its 
submission to the Council, and to attach to it any additional 
information for the Council,s consideration. 
 
End text of draft decision document. 
 
¶3.  (U) Javits sends. 
ARNALL