Cablegate: Meeting National Implementation Obligations of The

VZCZCXRO7436
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #4910 3400826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060826Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4180
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9488
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0701
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2993
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2170
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS MANILA 004910

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CB/SIDLER AND EAP/MTS
THE HAGUE FOR CWC DEL
USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5
SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/BAILEY)
JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CBW BWC JA AS RP
SUBJECT: MEETING NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OBLIGATIONS OF THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

REF: STATE 193643

1. (SBU) According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Director for International Political, Legal & Security
Affairs Jesus "Gary" Domingo, draft legislation to implement
Philippine obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention
is currently under review by Foreign Secretary Romulo.
Domingo predicted that the draft would be submitted to the
Philippine legislature for consideration once this review is
complete.

2. (SBU) Domingo noted that the chair of the Inter-Agency
Technical Advisory Council (IATAC), which serves as the
Philippines' interim National Authority until the passage of
the implementing legislation, had shifted from the DFA to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in November
2006. However, he stressed that the DFA would remain closely
involved. "It's a co-chair in reality," he said. Domingo
stated that in 2007 the IATAC intended to address the
industrial compliance gap with programs targeting importers
and exporters and chemical-related industries. He said the
Philippines would welcome any U.S. technical assistance to
improve its industrial outreach efforts.

3. (SBU) Domingo added that, as part of the Philippines'
compliance efforts, the DFA intended to host an inter-agency
seminar/workshop in the first quarter of 2007 to brief
policymakers and enforcers on the Proliferation Security
Initiative. According to Domingo, the seminar would include
both policy discussions and practical enforcement scenarios.
He stated that he had informally approached Japanese and
Australian counterparts regarding funding assistance and
participation, and expressed a hope that the United States
might support the initiative. Poloff noted Domingo's
proposal, but made no commitments about U.S. involvement.

Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY

© Scoop Media