null
Brooke F Adams  11/14/2006 11:39:01 AM  From  DB/Inbox:  Brooke F Adams

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
S E C R E T        TRIPOLI 00626

SIPDIS
CXCAIRO:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   RSO PA ORA OMC LEGAT IPS ECON DEA DCM DAO CONS
            AMB AID

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

VZCZCCRO408
RR RUEHEG
DE RUEHTRO #0626/01 3061009
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 021009Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1370
INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0456
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0027
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0026
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0462
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0025
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 1546

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG GAVITO, OES/STC FOR SENSENEY, DSWMDR KEN WARD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  11/1/2016 
TAGS: PARM PREL OPCW CWC LY
SUBJECT: (S) DEMARCHE DELIVERED: CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION 
ASSISTANCE TO LIBYA 
 
REF: STATE 176372 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth Fritschle, Pol/Econ Chief, United 
States Embassy, DOS. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Charge discussed Reftel points (concerning 
U.S. Chemical Weapons Destruction Assistance to Libya) with 
senior Qadhafi advisor and General People's Committee for 
Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (GPCFLIC) 
Secretary Abdulati al-Obeidi October 31.  Their discussion 
 
SIPDIS 
followed Embassy ESTH officer's delivery of the points in 
non-paper form to Colonel Ahmed AbulHuda and the new GPCFLIC POC 
for OPCW matters, Adem Talah.  Obeidi said the Libyans are 
examining the Embassy's revised Arabic translation of the 
contract, and planned to provide feedback before the OPCW 
meeting in the Hague.  He reviewed ongoing Libyan objections to 
the termination notice section, as well as appropriations and 
foreign assistance-related restrictions on the program.  The 
previous day Colonel AbulHuda stayed only for a moment, and left 
Talah and ESTH officer to continue discussions.  (ESTH officer 
spoke with Colonel Huda on the phone earlier in the week and 
discussed the general issues outlined in reftel)  Talah provided 
no official response, but received the points, and stated that 
he understood the contractual/financial issues associated with 
the November deadline for conclusion of the contract 
discussions.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
------------------------------------- 
Obeidi Reviews Concerns 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Following ESTH officer's delivery of the Arabic 
translation of the contract and Reftel points, (see below), 
Charge  reiterated to Obeidi the need for an expeditious reply 
(preferably before the November 6-10 OPCW meeting at the Hague) 
and highlighted the November 25 contract bid expiration date. 
Obeidi responded that he would discuss our response with General 
Ahmed Mahmoud Ali Al-Zwayy November 1 and the Libyans would try 
to get back to us on our draft before the November 6 OPCW 
meeting, but reiterated that the Libyans have been unhappy since 
the early September discussions in Tripoli about three issues: 
 
- Their perception that the U.S. committed to a 45 million 
dollar effort, but can only sign for $24,600,000.  "This hampers 
our ability to budget and to provide proper assurance to the 
OPCW," Obeidi said.  (Note:  As in previous discussions Obeidi 
was not receptive to an explanation of the US appropriations 
process.  End Note.) 
 
- The removal of the equipment from Libya after conclusion of 
the contract; and 
 
- The 30-day cancellation clause. 
 
-------- 
Upcoming Executive Council Meeting in The Hague 
-------- 
 
¶3.  (U) ESTH officer discussed the U.S. desire to conclude 
contract negotiations, if possible, during the upcoming 
executive council session of the OPCW in The Hague.  Talah and 
Colonel AbulHuda agreed that this would be a good opportunity as 
Talah and Dr. Ahmed Hesnawi would both be in attendance. 
(Background:  Dr. Hesnawi is the Libyan lead technical 
representative in the discussions, and due to his proficiency in 
English, Arabic and the technical aspects of the munitions and 
precursors involved, is the de facto lead negotiator when 
General al-Azwaay is not in the room.)  Although they understood 
this to be an opportunity to conclude negotiations, neither 
provided a solid commitment or deadline for completion. 
 
-------- 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
¶4.  (S)  While the GOL is certainly committed to fulfilling 
their obligations with respect to the OPCW, there is still some 
resistance to complete the contractual negotiations.  They 
understand what items/deliverables they need to provide to 
satisfy the U.S. government, but continue to drag their feet. 
Talah said plainly that the pace of the negotiations was moving 
along as fast as the Libyans "desired."  Interestingly, the GOL 
sent Talah to Rome the week of October 22-28 to attend a 
conference on OPCW obligations to give him an insight into the 
organization's precepts, showing a continued desire to 
understand and adhere to their obligations.  While the delay in 
part reflects the specific three concerns outlined by Obeidi, it 
also reflects the Libyans ongoing calls for a signficant 
"reward" that the government can show as the benefit of having 
renounced its WMD programs.   They often complain that they gave 
up hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S., and in return 
they expect that the U.S. will  reward them with projects and 
equipment. 
 
-------- 
Next Steps: 
-------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  OES A/S Claudia McMurray plans to visit Tripoli on 
November 11-13 2006, and will have a chance to meet with Dr. 
El-Waer of the LEA.  This will provide an opportunity to ask 
El-Waer for a definitive answer to Libyan interest in hazardous 
waste disposal, and what interest remains, if any, in retaining 
the incinerator/neutralization equipment after the destruction 
process.  If the GOL does not provide its suggested language 
changes before the upcoming meeting in The Hague, the U.S. 
delegation will have an additional opportunity to press for the 
requested items, and/or the issues slowing negotiations. 
GOLDRICH