Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME2257
2002-05-09 13:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY SAYS IRAN MAY REALLY NEED SPEED BOATS

Tags:  PREL PARM ETTC IR IT UN EXPORT CONTROLS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002257 

SIPDIS

NP/ECNP, NP/ECS, NEA/NGA, EUR/PRA, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2012
TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC IR IT UN EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALY SAYS IRAN MAY REALLY NEED SPEED BOATS


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02257 091415Z
REF: STATE 64844

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY ECOUNS KAREN MILLIKEN; REASON 1.5 B/D.

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002257

SIPDIS

NP/ECNP, NP/ECS, NEA/NGA, EUR/PRA, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2012
TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC IR ITALY'>IT UN EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALY SAYS IRAN MAY REALLY NEED SPEED BOATS


CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02257 091415Z
REF: STATE 64844

CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY ECOUNS KAREN MILLIKEN; REASON 1.5 B/D.


1. (C) ACTION REQUEST AND SUMMARY. ITALY WILL INVESTIGATE
REFTEL POTENTIAL SALE OF HIGH-SPEED BOATS TO IRAN BUT, AT
LEAST PRELIMINARILY, DOES NOT NECESSARILY AGREE THAT THE
SALES WOULD EITHER VIOLATE ITALIAN LAW OR WOULD COME WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF WASSENAAR'S MUNITIONS LIST. MFA'S
NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR SAYS THAT ITALY WOULD NOT ALLOW
THE SALES IF IT FOUND THE BOATS TO BE WARSHIPS. ON THE OTHER
HAND, HE SAID, IRAN HAS A LOT OF COAST TO PATROL AND SOME
NEIGHBORS WHO NEED WATCHING. SEE ACTION REQUEST PARA 4. END
ACTION REQUEST AND SUMMARY.


2. (C) THE GOI WILL INVESTIGATE REFTEL'S POTENTIAL BOAT AND
BOAT ENGINE SALES TO IRAN IN THE CONTEXT OF APPLICABLE
NONPROLIFERATION OBLIGATIONS AND INTERESTS, MFA'S
NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR UGO DE MOHR TOLD ECONOFF ON MAY

8. DE MOHR EXPLAINED THAT ITALY, NOTWITHSTANDING ITS VAST
TRADE RELATIONS WITH IRAN, STEADFASTLY EMBARGOES SALES TO
IRAN OF WEAPONS AND SENSITIVE DUAL USE GOODS AND
TECHNOLOGIES. REVIEWING REFTEL TALKING POINTS, HOWEVER, HE
SAID HE COULD NOT AGREE THAT THE SALES WOULD NECESSARILY
EITHER VIOLATE ITALIAN LAW OR REQUIRE ACTIVATION OF THE
WASSENAAR PROCESS.


3. (C) DE MOHR SAID THAT ITALIAN LAW REQUIRES A WEAPONS/
SENSITIVE DUAL USE EMBARGO AGAINST IRAN UNDER "CATCH HUMAN
RIGHTS" PROVISIONS UNTIL IRAN COMPLIES WITH APPLICABLE UNITED
NATIONS RESOLUTIONS BUT ADDED, "I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 02257 091415Z
SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROPOSED SALES ARE CONTROLLED, THAT
THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS INTENDED FOR MILITARY PURPOSES."
HE SAID MFA WOULD TALK TO THE COMPANIES SPECIFIED REFTEL --
FABBIO BUZZI DESIGN AND ISOTTA FRANCHINI -- AND SHARE ITS
FINDINGS WITH POST.


4. (C) IN CLOSING, DE MOHR NOTED THAT "ANYTHING, EVEN A PAIR
OF SHOES, CAN BE INTERPRETED AS DUAL USE. IRAN YOU KNOW HAS
A LOT OF COAST TO PATROL AND SOME NEIGHBORS WHO BEAR
WATCHING." ACTION REQUEST. DE MOHR WAS NOT THE RECIPIENT OF
LAST YEAR'S DEMARCHE IN WHICH WE ASKED MFA TO PREVAIL UPON
THE IRANIANS TO STEP UP MONITORING OF OIL TANKERS IN ITS
WATERS FOR POSSIBLE SMUGGLING OF IRAQI OIL IN CONTRAVENTION
OF UN SANCTIONS. ITALY CARRIED THAT MESSAGE TO IRAN, AND
IRAN EVIDENTLY DID INCREASE SURVEILLANCE OF ITS WATERS. WE
EXPECT THAT OTHER MFA OFFICES, THE IRANIANS, OR THE COMPANIES
INVOLVED WILL POSIT THIS KIND OF PATROLLING FUNCTION AS A
LEGITIMATE END-USE FOR THESE SPEED BOATS. WE WOULD
APPRECIATE BENEFIT OF DEPARTMENT'S COUNTER-ARGUMENTS.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME02257 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL