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UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000420 
 
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COMMERCE FOR BIS (ROBERTS) 
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WINPAC FOR WALTER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC
SUBJECT: CWC REVIEW CONFERENCE PART I - FORMAL OPENING 
MEETINGS, APRIL 7-9, 2008 
 
REF: THE HAGUE 349 
 
This is CWC-20-08. 
 
¶1. (U) This cable is part of a series on the Second 
Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference 
(RevCon) April 7-18, 2008.  It follows the initial 
report at the end of the Conference (reftel) and 
covers the opening plenary sessions of the Conference 
and the general debate.  Other cables will follow 
focusing on the process for the remainder of the 
Conference, an analysis of the final RevCon report, 
and a report on other meetings and events that 
occurred on the margins of the Conference. 
 
¶2. (U) Summary.  Prior to the convening of the Review 
Conference, a special session of the Conference of 
the States Parties (CSP) had to be convened April 7 
to amend Rule 8 of the CSP Rules of Procedure to 
provide for a separate rotation of the Review 
Conference Chairmanship.  Immediately thereafter, the 
Second CWC Review Conference opened, heard a report 
from the CSP Chairman, appointed its own Chairman, 
took decisions on a series of procedural issues, and 
heard a series of statements from the OPCW Director- 
General, the UN Secretary-General, several groups of 
States, and 45 States Parties.  Among the common 
themes of these statements were: the reaffirmation of 
CWC obligations, calls for those states possessing 
chemical weapons to complete destruction within the 
deadlines, and the importance of universality of the 
convention, national implementation measures, 
assistance and protection, and international 
cooperation.  Some states spoke to the increasing 
threat of terrorism and use of toxic chemicals by 
terrorist groups, the importance of developments in 
science and technology, and industry verification. 
End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Third Special Session of the Conference of States 
Parties (CSP) 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Third Special Session of the Conference of 
the States Parties (CSP) was held on April 7 to amend 
Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the CSP.  The 
Session adopted text allowing Special Review Sessions 
to elect a Chairman and ten Vice Chairmen to ensure 
that the chairmanship of the CWC Review Conference 
rotates on a fair and equitable basis among the 
regional groups represented at the Conference.  The 
issue arose due to the fact that there are five 
recognized regional groups and the Review Conferences 
take place every five years.  Without rotation, the 
same regional group (Africa) would chair every Review 
Conference.  Although the problem was recognized at 
the first Review Conference, and discussed on the 
margins of the CSP in November, no action had yet 
been taken to change the procedures.   The CSP 
Special Session in April formally amended the rules, 
allowing the Review Conference to elect its own 
leadership, with the Asian group choosing the Chair 
and the African group the Chair of the Committee of 
the Whole. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Opening session of the Second Special Conference to 
Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons 
Convention:  April 7, 2008 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Chairman and General Committee Elected:  CSP 
Chairman Ambassador Abuelgasim Abdelwahid Sheikh 
Idris of Sudan opened the RevCon with great optimism 
for a positive outcome and called upon States Parties 
to continue the momentum initiated in the Open Ended 
 
Working Group (OEWG) under the able leadership of UK 
Ambassador Lyn Parker.  The Chair highlighted the 
successes of the Organization over the past five 
years since the first Review Conference, to include, 
inter alia: the increase of membership to 183 States 
Parties; the continued destruction efforts and 
decline in the global stockpile; the increased 
adoption of implementing legislation; and the 
momentous events surrounding the tenth anniversary of 
the Convention in 2007. 
 
¶5.  (U) The Review Conference elected Saudi Arabian 
Ambassador Waleed El Khereiji as Chair, Algerian 
Ambassador Benchaa Dani as the Chair of the Committee 
of the Whole, and appointed ten Vice Chairpersons 
(two from each regional group).  The Vice Chairs 
include representatives from China, Iran, Uruguay, 
Costa Rica, France, the United States, Kenya, 
Nigeria, Russia, and the Czech Republic.  Further, 
States Parties approved the following documents 
without discussion:  the provisional agenda drafted 
at the 52nd Executive Council (RC-2/1, dated March 2, 
2008); the Organization of Work and Subsidiary Bodies 
(RC-2 Dec CRP-2, dated April 7, 2008); and the 
attendance of observers, NGOs, and academia under 
relevant Rules of Procedure. 
 
¶6.  (U) Director General's (DG) Statement:  Director 
General Rogelio Pfirter set the stage for the Review 
Conference by remarking on the successes achieved by 
the OPCW over the past 11 years in disarmament, 
citing the possible future need for a special 
conference of States Parties on meeting the 2012 
destruction deadline, and looking to the future of 
the Organization when it will be able to assume a 
greater nonproliferation focus.  Many U.S. objectives 
were addressed in the Director General's speech:  he 
focused on developments in the chemical industry, and 
called for the use of open source data during 
inspections; reaffirmed the General Purpose Criterion 
that the Convention covers all toxic chemicals and 
not just those included in the Schedules; and 
stressed the importance of universality and the need 
for the twelve states not party to the Convention to 
accede as soon as possible. 
 
¶7. (U) Report from the Chairman of the OPCW Executive 
Council and on the work of the Open Ended Working 
Group:  OPCW Executive Council Chair Ambassador Romeo 
Arguelles (Philippines) briefly outlined the EC's 
work in preparing for the Review Conference, and 
introduced UK Ambassador Lyn Parker who chaired the 
Council's Open-Ended Working Group that spearheaded 
the drafting effort of the Review Conference report 
text.  After 34 meetings and several informal 
sessions, Parker stated his belief that the draft 
text was not prejudicial to any delegation, but 
cautioned that there was still much work needed to 
complete the report.  While the chairman's text had 
no formal standing, he expressed the hope that it 
would serve as a guide for the RevCon's work in 
drawing up its report. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
General Debate Statements:  UN SYG and Groups 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶8.  (U) The Review Conference's General Debate was 
conducted from the afternoon of 7 April through mid- 
day 9 April.  Statements included a message from UN 
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Slovenia on behalf of 
the European Union, the Dutch Foreign Minister as 
host country for the OPCW, Cuba on behalf of the Non- 
Aligned Movement and China, South Africa on behalf of 
the African Group, and Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the 
Central Independent States.  General summaries of 
statements follow. 
 
¶9.  (U) Message from UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon:   UN 
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's message was delivered 
by Mr. Tim Caughley, Director of the Geneva Branch of 
the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.  The UN SYG 
said that the Review Conference should be a time for 
States Parties to reflect on the provisions of the 
CWC and the key developments in science and 
technology over the past 11 years.  He commended the 
success of the destruction of 27,000 tons of chemical 
weapons, but urged possessor states to continue to 
destroy remaining stockpiles. He also stressed the 
need for universality. 
 
¶10. (U) European Union:   The EU highlighted the 
common position agreed to by EU members with regard 
to the Review Conference.  Issues of importance 
included:  reaffirming the general purpose criterion; 
addressing the destruction of CW stockpiles and the 
conversion of all chemical weapons production 
facilities; implementing and enhancing the 
verification regime; recalling the availability of 
challenge inspections; achieving complete 
universality; reaffirming the need for national 
implementation to stay abreast of developments in 
science and technology; contributing to the fight 
against terrorism; cooperating with chemical industry 
and the scientific community; and finally, 
interaction between  the OPCW and others within 
international fora and the relationship between the 
EU and the OPCW.  The EU statement stressed the 
importance of all CWC treaty provisions and looked to 
the future on how the OPCW will remain relevant as 
certain treaty provisions are met. 
 
¶11. (U) Dutch Foreign Minister:  Dutch Foreign 
Minister Maxime Verhagen spoke as representative of 
the host country for the OPCW.  He stated that the 
OPCW is an example of effective multilateralism and a 
key contributor to why The Hague is a city of peace, 
justice, and security.  He called upon States Parties 
to look to the future on where the OPCW should be in 
five or ten years and how it can face a number of 
challenges that lie ahead.  These challenges include 
the accessibility of technologies that could be 
harmful when in the wrong hands.  The Organization 
needs to look at how developments in science and 
technology should be monitored, how to combat the 
proliferation of chemical weapons among non-state 
actors, and how the OPCW can monitor the growing 
number of OCPFs while still monitoring schedule 1, 2, 
and 3 plants.  He encouraged the OPCW to intensify 
its nonproliferation activities, but he also 
cautioned States Parties not to forget the near-term 
objectives of the OPCW, to include universality, 
national implementation, and destruction.  He called 
States Parties to use the Review Conference as an 
opportunity to turn the OPCW from a good player into 
a great player. 
 
¶12. (U) Non-Aligned Movement and China:  The 
Statement of the NAM States Parties plus China, 
presented by the Cuban Ambassador as Chairman of the 
NAM, called States Parties to reaffirm their 
commitment "to the effective and balanced 
implementation of all of (the CWC's) provisions" and 
expressed its view that the Review Conference should 
review the operation of the Organization, but not 
change the focus of the Convention.  It came as no 
surprise that the NAM's main focus for the RevCon was 
destruction (disarmament), "a fundamental pillar of 
the convention," and more particularly, meeting 
destruction deadlines.  The NAM also commented on the 
need for universality in meeting the object and 
purpose of the convention.  They called on States 
Parties to ensure that the CWC not be implemented in 
such a way that interferes with, or obstructs the 
economic or technological developments of other 
States Parties.  Such restrictions erode the trust 
 
between States Parties and are contrary to the spirit 
of the Convention.  Regarding other "fundamental 
pillars" of the Convention, the NAM called for an 
Action Plan under Article XI for the full 
implementation of international cooperation and 
assistance programs for capacity building.  The NAM 
made a brief mention of terrorism, but believed it is 
best addressed by the full implementation of the 
treaty and universality.  The NAM called for 
continued consultation on the frequency of industry 
inspections.  They expressed satisfaction that so far 
no challenge inspections have been called, and argued 
that the consultation and clarification procedures 
should be exhausted before any decision to proceed 
with a challenge inspection occurs.  In concluding 
the NAM reaffirmed the importance of consensus 
decision-making by the Policy Making Organs, 
expressed concern about unresolved issues related to 
the full implementation of the Headquarters 
Agreement, and cited the importance of recruiting TS 
staff on a wider geographic basis. 
 
¶13. (U) The African Group:  South Africa spoke on 
behalf of the African Group, which aligned itself 
with the statement made by the Non-Aligned Movement 
and China.  The Statement opened with a summary of 
the successes of the organization since its entry 
into force, but then looked to the work still needed 
in order for the pillars of the Convention to be 
fully implemented.  The African Group put great 
emphasis on destruction and the need to destroy the 
remaining 60 percent of chemical weapons stockpiles 
by 2012. The African Group reported that they have 
made advancements in implementing their Article VII 
obligations and establishing National Authorities. 
The African Group called for full implementation of 
Article XI and asked that the Review Conference to 
establish an agreed upon framework to promote 
international cooperation.  The African Group also 
recalled the need for the Program for Africa to be 
implemented to raise awareness of the Convention in 
Africa and to provide assistance with national 
implementing legislation and establishing National 
Authorities. The African Group also looked to the 
implementation of Article X to provide assistance and 
capacity building.  The African Group viewed Article 
X as vital to address the threat of global 
terrorism. 
 
¶14. (U) Central Independent States (CIS):  Kyrgyzstan 
spoke on behalf of CIS Countries, stressing the need 
for universality in order to meet the objectives of 
the Convention and address the threats and global 
challenges that currently exist.  CIS countries 
welcomed the progress of destruction made to date and 
stressed the importance of adhering to treaty 
provisions.  Further, CIS countries called upon State 
Parties to review the operation of the Organization 
and provide strategic guidance for the next phase of 
the Convention.  The Statement also addressed the 
need for continued international assistance 
implementing the CWC and called on states not party 
to the treaty to join as soon as possible. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
General Debate Statements:  States Parties ) Thematic 
Summaries 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶15. (U)  During the course of General Debate, 45 
representatives of States Parties spoke, including: 
United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, 
Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Iran, Serbia, 
Switzerland, Mexico, Algeria, Canada, New Zealand, 
South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, 
Malaysia, Peru, Republic of Korea, Australia, Brazil, 
Tunisia, Yemen, Norway, Sudan, El Salvador, Mongolia, 
India, Colombia, Nigeria, Albania, Libya, Thailand, 
 
Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Zambia, Uganda, 
Belarus, Morocco, China (Hong Kong Special 
Administrative Region), and Argentina.  National 
themes for the most part paralleled those contained 
in the Group statements.  Thematic summaries follow. 
 
¶16.  (U) Reaffirmation of CWC Obligations:  States 
Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the Convention 
and its provisions.  Many reaffirmed the General 
Purpose Criteria, and pointed to its importance in 
providing an underpinning to stem proliferation.  The 
NAM, plus China, sought to prioritize among 
obligations, most citing elimination of chemical 
weapons as the core objective, and implementation of 
Articles X and XI (assistance, protection and 
international cooperation) as of "fundamental" 
importance.  Western States, on the other hand, 
sought to reinforce the importance of all convention 
provisions, including national implementation. 
Several States raised concerns about "non-lethal 
agents," incapacitants or riot control agents (RCAs), 
with Switzerland alleging that uncertainty concerning 
the status of incapacitating agents under the CWC 
risks to undermine it.  Switzerland proposed 
discussions of this issue, a move supported by 
several States, including Norway.  Iran noted the 
obligation not to use RCA's as a method of warfare, 
and deplored the recent use of such non-lethals as a 
means of warfare.  (Comment: When asked informally to 
what they were referring, Iranian delegates refused 
to provide clarification.  End comment) 
 
¶17.  (U) Universality:  Almost all speakers noted the 
progress made towards universality, and many called 
upon, or urged, the twelve countries outside the 
regime to join.  Middle East/North Africa countries 
cited the importance of the Middle East as a Zone 
Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and several 
(Saudi Arabia, Iran) singled out Israel by name as 
the obstacle to achieving this objective. Several 
countries commended the OPCW and TS efforts in 
pursuit of universality, and highlighted their own 
national efforts to this end. 
 
¶18. (U) Destruction:  Possessor States reported on 
destruction progress, reaffirming their commitments. 
Russia (Victor Kholstov) stated it "rules out the 
possibility of not complying with the conventional 
deadlines for the destruction of its CW stockpile," 
thanked those states which have helped and opined 
that the predictability of assistance will be 
particularly important over the next two years 
(Comment: In other words, if Russia misses the 
deadlines, they are not to blame. End Comment) 
Almost all speakers cited the importance of achieving 
elimination of chemical weapons as soon as possible, 
and within the extended deadlines; many called for 
intensification of efforts.  At the same time, a 
number of states welcomed progress to date in 
destruction and encouraged states able to do so to 
continue providing assistance.  The NAM plus China 
argued that destruction was the core objective and 
central task of the OPCW, with many NAM states 
stressing that any serious discussions about the 
evolution of the OPCW work to focus on changing 
needs, such as non-proliferation objectives, should 
not be held until destruction is complete.  Pakistan 
cited the UNGA Resolution on Compliance with Arms 
Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Objectives 
in speaking to meeting the deadlines, while Iran 
opined that non-compliance with deadlines would raise 
concerns "that domestic policies have resulted in 
preferences for retaining certain stockpiles as 
'security reserves.'"  Nigeria echoed a similar 
theme.  Still a handful of others alleged that not 
meeting destruction deadlines would call into 
question the CWC's credibility or integrity (South 
Africa, Serbia). While China acknowledged there has 
 
been some progress in addressing the abandoned 
chemical weapons left by Japan in China, it 
reiterated that not one weapon has been destroyed so 
far, urging Japan to fulfill its obligations.  Japan 
replied that this issue was a top priority for it. 
 
¶19. (U) Verification/Compliance:  Most verification 
discussion revolved around industry inspections, in 
particular OCPF inspections, risk assessment as a 
factor in determining where to inspect, and site 
selection methodology.  Iran and some NAM countries 
argued in support of their concept of a hierarchy of 
risk approach (Comment: a transparent effort to keep 
many of their facilities off the inspection list). 
While welcoming the DG's initiative on site selection 
methodology as a temporary measure, a number called 
for a new methodology to be agreed.  Still others, 
including the U.S., noted that the intent in 
adjusting how OCPF inspections were decided was not 
motivated simply by a desire to inspect more, but 
rather to focus on those 10-15 per cent of facilities 
that could really pose a risk.  Several countries 
stressed the importance of a well-trained 
inspectorate, called upon the TS to maintain its 
capabilities to conduct an inspection, including a 
challenge inspection. Canada suggested as useful a 
challenge inspection exercise involving the Executive 
Council.  India, among others, cautioned against 
abuse of the challenge inspection regime, arguing 
that it should only be used in exceptional 
circumstances, and as a last resort.  In the 
meantime, no call for a challenge inspection, India 
opined, meant the regime is working.  Canada and 
Australia cited the need to decide on levels of 
concentration for Schedule 2/2A chemicals. 
 
¶20. (U) National Implementation Measures/Article VII: 
Many countries cited the importance of implementing 
national measures, with Russia stating that such 
measures were the main guarantee of non-proliferation 
of chemical weapons.  Turkey and Switzerland recalled 
that national implementing measures were one of the 
essential conditions for the functioning of the CWC. 
Many described their own national efforts and 
assistance they were providing to others, and still 
others encouraged continued assistance.  Russia and 
Pakistan, for example, noted the correlation between 
implementing Article VII and Article XI on 
international cooperation.  While welcoming progress 
made, most Western countries expressed concern that 
many states still did not have CWC implementing 
legislation in place, and stressed the need for a 
sustained effort in putting such legislation in 
place.  Iran, on the other hand, expressed dismay 
that "some State Parties have incorporated certain 
conditions contrary to the Convention in its national 
legislation."  This paralleled the stated NAM and 
China's concern that "undue restrictions" amongst 
States Parties on exchange of technology, materials, 
and equipment for peaceful purposes are contrary to 
the letter and spirit of the Convention, affect its 
long term viability and jeopardize the trust that 
exists amongst States, which resulted in a NAM/China 
call for removal of such undue restrictions. 
 
¶21. (U) Assistance and Protection/Article X:  Many 
called for implementation of Article X.  South Africa 
recommended that the current training program be 
augmented, and that the RevCon examine the role 
regional and sub-regional response mechanisms could 
play in providing assistance to States Parties.  Some 
States noted assistance they have provided; others 
asked for more, including an increase in the budget 
and capacity building.  Iran recalled its proposal 
for establishment of a "CW Victim's International 
Funding and Assistance Network," expressing 
expectations that the Executive Council would 
consider the details of such a network.  Pakistan 
 
noted a link between Article X and protection against 
terrorism. 
 
¶22. (U) International Cooperation (ICA), Economic and 
Technical Development/Article XI: Many NAM countries 
recalled the CSP-12 decision on Article XI, and 
called for development of a follow-up Action Plan. 
Many also called for a steady increase in the regular 
budget to fund ICA and assistance programs.  South 
Africa articulated the challenge:  to balance genuine 
security concerns with development objectives within 
the context of non-proliferation of WMD. 
 
¶23. (U) Terrorism/UNSC 1540:  A number of countries, 
including Iran and Algeria,  expressed concern about 
the growing risk of terrorism, including use of 
chemical weapons, with Algeria and others pointing to 
the roll the OPCW can play in assisting in global 
efforts to combat terrorism and cooperation with 
international and regional organizations.   Some 
States stressed the importance of implementing UNSC 
1540 and supporting the UN global Counterterrorism 
Strategy, and of capacity building. 
 
¶24. (U) Non-Proliferation/Evolution of the OPCW: 
Canada elaborated upon a theme voiced by many, 
namely, that as the end of the destruction phase 
approaches, the OPCW must gradually shift the balance 
of its collective efforts towards non-proliferation, 
particularly focusing on Article VI Activities not 
Prohibited. Russia called for preventing 
proliferation and strengthening multilateral efforts. 
Pakistan observed that mechanisms shore up support 
for disarmament and non-proliferation when they 
promote peaceful purposes. 
 
¶25. (U) Science and Technology/Scientific Advisory 
Board (SAB):  While all speakers gave lip service to 
the need to keep scientific and technological 
developments under review, including so that the 
verification regime can keep abreast of relevant 
developments, the NAM and India and Iran in 
particular sought to tie the hands of the OPCW in 
responding to such developments.  India proposed 
creation of a standing committee of governmental 
experts of States Parties as a permanent mechanism to 
thoroughly examine the findings reached by the 
Scientific Advisory Board and prepare recommendations 
for the Policy Making Organs.  (Comment: In practice, 
this would be inconsistent with the Convention's 
stipulation that the SAB report directly to the DG. 
End comment)  Iran made a similar suggestion.  On the 
other hand, the U.S. found some resonance to its 
proposal for more focused, directed meetings of the 
SAB on a more frequent basis. 
 
¶26.  (U) Functioning of the Organization/Technical 
Secretariat:  States Parties commended the Technical 
Secretariat on its good work in implementing the 
Convention, with Iran citing the close cooperation 
between the TS and the States Parties as a positive 
feature.  Several countries, including the African 
Group, argued for better geographical representation 
in the TS.  Japan harkened back to discussions about 
adjusting to meet new requirements, and commended 
results based budgeting and zero nominal growth. 
 
¶27.  (U) Javits sends. 
Gallagher