Wikileaks - DCXLV
97865 2/23/2007 15:34 07THEHAGUE344 Embassy The Hague CONFIDENTIAL 07THEHAGUE298 VZCZCXYZ0027 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0344 0541534 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231534Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8297 INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 2729 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1988 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1679 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 4072 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 9214 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 1147 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2638 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN PRIORITY 0218 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 1867 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0982 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0156 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1648 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0328 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0575 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1337 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0348 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2100 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 1358 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1749 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 2003 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000344
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, ISN/CB, VCI/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN) NSC FOR LEDDY WINPAC FOR WALTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2017 TAGS: PARM, AORC, EIND, OPCW, CWC, CBM, IR SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): ASIAN GROUP MOVING TOWARD SELECTING PHILIPPINES FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAIR
REF: THE HAGUE 298
Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Javits, Permanent Representative to t he Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D).
This is CWC-17-07.
1. (C) On February 22, Malaysian Ambassador Ariffin reaffirmed to Ambassador Javits that there is no/no expressed support in the Asian Group to select Iran as the group candidate to be the EC Chair. She added that her canvassing of the group indicated it had now moved toward Philippine Ambassador Arguelles, explaining that group members had come to realize that India had previously served as the EC Chair (1997-98), and there is a strong feeling that this key OPCW position should be rotated in their group.
2. (C) Ariffin said she was surprised to have heard that South Korean Ambassador Choi would support India. Ariffin opined that once India discusses this matter with other members of the group, it will find that there is strong support for the principle of rotation and, specifically, a consensus for Arguelles. Pakistan Ambassador Naqvi was also part of this discussion and expressed no disagreement with the remarks made by Ariffin. (Note: Pakistan is the Asian Group coordinator.)
3. (C) Comment: Despite the twists and turns in the Asian Group deliberations, the key point remains that there is no desire to consider Iran. Ambassador Javits will continue to monitor the discussions, and his recommendation remains to let the group continue its deliberations. As a result, the delegation recommends against carrying out further demarches in capitals on this issue at this time, which could upset internal Asian Group discussions. End Comment.
4. (U) Javits sends. BLAKEMAN
