US embassy cable - 05MADRID2451

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002451 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, 
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL, ALSO FOR EMBASSY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2015 
TAGS: PARM, MARR, KTIA, SP, CWC 
SUBJECT: SPAIN AGREES TO MEETING WITH USG ON CHEMICAL 
WEAPONS CONVENTION IN THE HAGUE 
 
REF: STATE 104144 
 
Classified By: RICARDO ZUNIGA, POLITICAL OFFICER, FOR 
REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
 
1.  (C) Poloff met with the Spanish Foreign Ministry's deputy 
director of International Disarmament Affairs, Marcos 
Rodriguez Cantero, June 24 to convey Washington's desire to 
meet with Spanish experts in The Hague during the 41st 
Executive Council Session June 28 to July 5 to discuss the 
text of the Chemical Weapons Convention Host Country 
Agreement (reftel).  Rodriguez said Spain's ambassador to The 
Hague, Alfonso Dastis, and a representative from Spain's 
National Chemical Weapons Agency (ANPAQ), Niveas Gomez, would 
meet with the USG to discuss the agreement. 
 
2.  (C) Rodriguez explained that one of Spain's concerns with 
the agreement centers on what type of government military 
equipment falls under the USG's definition of "assets" which 
could come under inspection by the Organization for the 
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).  He added that Spain 
does not see a "strong need" for this agreement because Spain 
does not produce chemical weapons and would be unlikely to be 
targeted for inspection by the OPCW.  However, the GoS 
expects to follow through on its commitment to conclude the 
agreement with the USG, Rodriguez said. 
 
MANZANARES