US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO414

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000414 
 
SIPDIS 
 
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, MV, CWC, OPCW, External Relations, Maldives 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES:  STATUS OF ARTICLE VII IMPLEMENTATION 
UNDER THE CWC 
 
REF: STATE 28853 
 
1.  Poloff presented reftel demarche by fax to Foreign 
Secretary Abdul Hameed Zakariyya on February 23.  On February 
 
SIPDIS 
24 poloff received the following reply by fax from Ahmed 
Rasheed, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
2.  Begin text of reply: 
 
We have so far identified a national focal point for the CWC 
and related matters and conveyed the points of entry for 
inspection teams to the Organization for the Prohibition of 
Chemical Weapons (OPCW).  We have also dealt with the issue 
of standing diplomatic clearance for aircraft carrying 
inspectors of the OPCW.  We now have plans to change the 
focal point for the CWC to a more appropriate authority and 
hope to meet our obligations udner Article VII before the 
deadline. 
 
End text. 
LUNSTEAD