US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1828

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 001828 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AC/CB, NP/CBM, VC/CCB, L/ACV, IO/S 
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISP 
JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC 
COMMERCE FOR BIS (GOLDMAN) 
NSC FOR JOECK 
WINPAC FOR LIEPMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, CWC 
SUBJECT: CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC):  WEEKLY WRAP-UP 
FOR 16 JULY 2004 
 
This is CWC-88-04. 
 
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OPCW Draft Program and Budget 2005 
---------------------------------- 
 
1.  (U) The co-facilitators Gordon Eckersly/Australia and Ian 
Mundell/Canada held four sessions on 13-14 July 2004 to 
discuss Executive Management, Policymaking Organs, and 
Administration.  The DDG made a brief introduction to the 
elements covered by the Executive Management section. 
Delegations again raised their concerns about use of 
consultants and temporary assistance contracts (TACs) to 
augment TS staff.  Delegations also inquired about the basis 
of funding for medical exams, maternal and dependent 
allowances, acquisition of furniture, and conversion of the 
security guard force from TACs to staff members.  Delegations 
also questioned the large increase requested for DG and DDG 
travel and hospitality. 
 
2.  The DDG responded that expenditures for travel and 
hospitality in 2003 and 2004 to date were used to project the 
amount needed in 2005.  The DG wants to host lunches for the 
EC Chair and Vice-Chairs, visiting SAB and ABAF members, and 
visiting dignitaries.  The DG also plans extensive travel in 
support of the Action Plans on Universality and Article VII. 
Delegations then requested an actual program of activity that 
lays out which 2005 meetings, conferences, and workshops the 
DG plans to attend.  TS responded that they did not have one, 
so reiterated that actual expenditures were the basis of the 
request. 
 
3.  With regard to the conversion of the guard force, Rob 
Simpson, Head of Office of Confidentiality and Security, 
noted that based on costs of contracting security services 
since 2001 (estimated to be over EUR 1 million in 2005, based 
on the experience of Europol, ICTY, and ICC), conversion to 
FT-EUR 750,000--is cost effective.  In addition, personnel 
would turn over less frequently; and hence retain a high 
level of experience.  In addition, the current status of the 
guard force creates morale problems: because half are FT and 
half are TACs, though they are all doing the same job. 
 
4.  Sylwin Gizowski presented the Policymaking Organs 
overview.  Budget changes are the result of a change in 
contracted photographic reproduction services, with a sharp 
decrease in the next five-year contract along with two TAC 
positions to maintain the new equipment (maintenance 
personnel were provided by the previous contractor). 
Translation and interpretation services also decreased 
sharply, due to TS recognition that the five special EC 
sessions rarely last more than half a day although previously 
estimates used two days.  The TS also reached an agreement 
with the Russian Federation (RF) that the RF would provide 
translation of a large backlog of verification-related 
documents.  Gizowski also noted that most of the GTA budget 
was used for temporary, short-term assistance during the 
annual CSPs as well as an additional person to assist during 
regular EC sessions. 
 
5.  Director of Administration Herb Shultz presided over the 
discussion of the administration matters.  Shultz noted that 
the EUR 150,000 requested for consultants broke down into 
35,000 to reclassify costs when HR considered it necessary; 
30,000 to streamline the broken procurement process; 45,000 
for travel management; 20,000 for insurance policy review, 
and 20,000 for various RBB review elements.  Schulz noted the 
pressure brought on all administration elements by the tenure 
decision, which accounts for much of the GTA requests. 
 
6.  Brazil questioned whether the hiring process takes into 
account equitable geographic representation (Answer: Yes, in 
fact for both permanent staff and TACs).  Multiple 
delegations asked about the dramatic increases requested for 
furniture and computer equipment.  Shultz replied that 
currently there is no re-capitalization program to replace 
aging computer equipment, security cameras, and furniture, so 
that this is a first step to establishment of a replacement 
program. 
 
7.  The UK asked about salary and exchange rate calculations. 
 Specifically, the former appears to be higher than that used 
in the UN system, while the latter (Euro .89 to the USD) 
greatly exceeds the actual current rate.  Shultz replied that 
only Euro 10.4 million is affected by the exchange rate, 
which is calculated averaging from May 2003 to April 2004. 
The salaries are calculated using a five-year average. 
Switzerland noted that the UN uses a two-year average, and 
questioned the TS methodology. 
 
8.  Numerous delegations questioned the TS use of a 
two-to-three month lag to fill a vacant post, when actual 
experience suggests that 7 to 9 months is more accurate. 
Rick Martin, Head of the Budget Branch, noted that the lack 
of a head of HR resulted in longer than acceptable delays in 
filling vacant posts.  This situation is expected to 
normalize to an expected eight-week lag period, so this is 
the figure that was used to project salary costs. 
 
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Medium Term Plan 
---------------- 
 
9.    Informal consultations on the Medium Term Plan (MTP) 
were held at the OPCW on 15 July.  Besides the facilitators, 
DDG Brian Hawtin, Head of the International Cooperation 
Branch Bijoy Chatterjee, Director of Verification Horst 
Reeps, and Director of External Relations Huang Yu, were also 
present.  For the most part, discussion centered upon the 
"core objectives" contained in the MTP.  Both the facilitator 
and the DDG introduced the MTP as the Technical Secretariat's 
rationale for approaching the '05 budget and, consequently, a 
document whose time has past.  This introduction seemed to 
irritate those States Parties who felt they had not yet been 
provided with an opportunity to comment on the core 
objectives.  Several delegations, including India, Iran, 
South Africa, Brazil, Pakistan and Algeria lamented that 
States Parties need to agree on the objectives in order to 
agree on the budget.  Specifically, these delegations 
advocated a "four pillar" approach, emphasizing International 
Cooperation and Assistance and Art. XI references as one of 
the four "pillars". 
 
10.   Several States Parties, including the Del, UK, France, 
Germany and Italy expressed appreciation for the Technical 
Secretariat's work and the opportunity to provide comment, 
 
SIPDIS 
while noting that the issue of objectives and how to meet 
them is now the responsibility of States Parties to agree in 
the context of the budget negotiations.  The facilitator 
concluded the consultations by reminding States Parties that 
the MTP is a document only to be "noted" by the Executive 
Council and that the Technical Secretariat would address 
issues raised, as appropriate, in a re-draft of the MTP prior 
to the resumption of budget consultations in September.  Del 
delivered all point provided in guidance, which the DDG 
indicated, specifically, in his final remarks would be 
addressed in the MTP redraft. 
 
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Universality 
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11.  Facilitator Hela Lahmar/Tunisia held a 12 July session 
during which Huang Yu, Head of the External Relations 
Division reported on the DG's attendance at the Addis Ababa 
summit meeting of the African Union.  Of particular note, the 
DG met 45 minutes with the Egyptian Foreign Minister at the 
latter's request to discuss how to accede to the Convention 
(no further details as yet).  The DG also met with the 
Foreign Ministers of the States not Party Madagascar, 
Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau.  Huang also invited States Party 
to participate/assist during upcoming TS bilateral assistance 
visits to States not Party (Note: Huang specifically asked 
del rep if the U.S. would be willing to participate.  Please 
advise.). 
 
12.  Huang reported that TS efforts in Africa are going to 
pay off.  He expects that Madagascar and Liberia to accede in 
the next several weeks, Comoros, and Sierra Leone to accede 
within months, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 
eventually accede.  However, Huang is disappointed that 
Angola has been at best noncommittal.  It attended the Addis 
Ababa meeting, it confirmed but did not attend the Brussels 
meeting, and it does not return TS calls. 
 
13.  Huang also asked States Party to assist in TS efforts to 
encourage States not Party to attend the September 2004 
National Authorities meeting in Beijing.  He noted that the 
DG personally wrote to the heads of relevant Ministries of 
Foreign Affairs and local missions, inviting them to 
participate at TS expense. 
 
14.  When asked if the recent TS Universality mission to 
Brussels would be repeated, Huang noted that missions were 
planned for London (primarily Latin American and Caribbean 
states), Paris (primarily African states), and a repeat 
effort in Brussels (primarily African states), before CSP-9. 
No dates are set at this point.  Huang noted that another 
possibility would be to hold a meeting in Geneva (primarily 
Asian states).  In addition, the TS is considering inviting 
mission personnel from States not Party located in Paris, 
London, and Brussels to The Hague for a day of meetings (date 
TBD). 
 
15.  Germany, universally seconded, noted that many States 
are willing to assist the TS, but that it is difficult for 
States to respond when the TS does not provide dates and 
venues well in advance.  Multiple delegations asked for a 
report of the two consultants' efforts.  The facilitator 
noted that during her discussions with General Chong, she was 
told that his activities are secret and will remain so. 
Delegations were disappointed with Chong's response and 
pressed Huang for a full report of TS universality-related 
efforts (Note:  In a conversation following the DG's return 
from Korea, Ambassador Javits was informed that the DG now 
sees a pressing need to retain Chong to work on universality 
on the Korean peninsula.  It remains unclear, however, 
whether he would be retained as a contract consultant, or is 
being considered for the D-1 position advertised in ERD.  End 
Note.).  Austria, universally supported by other delegations, 
asked the TS to provide a country-by-country status report, 
including reports on recent contacts, in its next 
consultation with delegations.  Huang noted that ERD had 
prepared such a report, but that the DG decided it was too 
sensitive to distribute to delegations.  Delegations 
responded that was not acceptable. 
 
16.  Kellogg sends. 
RUSSEL