Wikileaks - DCXXXV
97067 2/16/2007 13:14 07HELSINKI112 Embassy Helsinki UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 07SECSTATE17200 VZCZCXYZ0021 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHHE #0112 0471314 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161314Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2987 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0184 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1114 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5498 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0556 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0380 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0066 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0188 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0075 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0108 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0174 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0367 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1379 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0353 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 1855 UNCLAS HELSINKI 000112
SIPDIS
SIPDIS SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM, AORC, EIND, OPCW, CWC, CBW, IR, FI SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) - SEEKING SUPPORT TO BLOCK IRAN BECOMING EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAIR
REF: SECSTATE 17200
1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche Feb. 15 to Jani Raappana, Counselor for Chemical and Biological Disarmament in the MFA's Unit for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non- Proliferation.
2. (SBU) Although Finland has received no "official" word that Iran intends to put forward a candidate for the CWC chairmanship, Raappana said the GOF opposes Iran's occupying that position and shares our concerns. For now, he said, Finland hopes the CWC's Asia Group can sort out the matter internally without the involvement of the WEOG, and he welcomed US behind-the-scenes efforts to urge the Asians put forward a consensus candidate as an alternative to the Iranian.
3. (SBU) Finland has no official position yet as to what actions it would take if the Asia group cannot find consensus. However, Raappana said that the EU countries on the CWC would likely seek a unified position. He added that the Europe Group has split in the past on chemical weapons issues and suggested that if it cannot reach a unified position, Finland would be likely to join the group that would vote against Iran's bid. WARE
