Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME209
2003-01-16 16:53:00
SECRET
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALIAN BOAT EXPORTS TO IRAN, LIBYA

Tags:  ETTC PREL IT IR LY EXPORT CONTROLS 
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S E C R E T ROME 000209 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/PRA, NP/ECNP, NEA/NGA, NEA/ENA, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2013
TAGS: ETTC PREL IT IR LY EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALIAN BOAT EXPORTS TO IRAN, LIBYA

REF: A. EDDY-COUNTRYMAN E-MAIL 01/11/03

B. FINKBEINER-TEKACHBALL E-MAIL 08/01/02

C. 02 STATE 266327

D. 02 ROME 2977

E. 02 ROME 2257

F. 02 ROME 6098

G. 02 ROME 6135

CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC MINISTER-COUNSELOR SCOTT KILNER FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D)

S E C R E T ROME 000209

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/PRA, NP/ECNP, NEA/NGA, NEA/ENA, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2013
TAGS: ETTC PREL IT IR LY EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALIAN BOAT EXPORTS TO IRAN, LIBYA

REF: A. EDDY-COUNTRYMAN E-MAIL 01/11/03

B. FINKBEINER-TEKACHBALL E-MAIL 08/01/02

C. 02 STATE 266327

D. 02 ROME 2977

E. 02 ROME 2257

F. 02 ROME 6098

G. 02 ROME 6135

CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC MINISTER-COUNSELOR SCOTT KILNER FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D)


1. (S) IN RESPONSE TO REF A, ECONOFF MET JANUARY 14 WITH MFA
NP COORDINATOR UGO DE MOHR TO ONCE AGAIN EXPRESS STRONG U.S.
CONCERNS OVER THE SALE OF HIGH-SPEED PATROL BOATS FROM
ITALIAN FIRMS TO IRAN, AND TO INQUIRE WHETHER ANY SUCH
VESSELS HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO IRAN. (REFS D-G CHRONICLE OUR
PREVIOUS EXCHANGES WITH THE GOI ON THIS AND OTHER
IRAN-RELATED NP ISSUES.) DE MOHR RESPONDED THAT HE DID NOT
KNOW WHETHER ANY OF THE BOATS HAD BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE
COMPANIES TO IRAN. REITERATING WHAT HE TOLD US DURING OUR
INQUIRY IN LATE JULY (REF B),DE MOHR SAID THAT, SINCE THE
GOI HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE BOATS WERE NEITHER MILITARY NOR
DUAL-USE IN NATURE, THEY WERE NOT SUBJECT TO GOI CONTROLS
(SUCH AS AN EXPORT LICENSE). AS SUCH, THE GOI HAD NOT
FOLLOWED UP TO SEE WHETHER THE BOATS WERE EVER DELIVERED. DE
MOHR AGREED, HOWEVER, TO CHECK INTO THE MATTER FOR US. HE
ALSO NOTED THAT, AFTER OUR JULY CONVERSATION, HE HAD
CONSULTED ONCE AGAIN WITH OTHER GOI AGENCIES, ALL OF WHICH
CONFIRMED THEIR VIEWS THAT THE BOATS WERE SOLELY CIVILIAN IN
NATURE.


2. (S) ECONOFF ALSO STRESSED THAT USG CONCERNS ABOUT THE
DELIVERY OF THESE VESSELS TO IRAN WERE SO STRONG THAT THE
ISSUE MIGHT BE RAISED DURING FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI,S
UPCOMING MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY. DE MOHR RESPONDED THAT
IN ANY BRIEFING OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER HE WOULD REITERATE
THE GOI INTERAGENCY CONSENSUS THAT THE BOATS WERE NEITHER
MILITARY NOR DUAL USE, WHILE POINTING OUT THE OPPOSING US
VIEW. HE WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY
FOR THE GOI TO STOP DELIVERY OF THE BOATS, GIVEN THE GOI,S
EVALUATION OF THEIR USE.


3. (C) ECONOFF ALSO RAISED THE POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION OF
ITALIAN COMPANIES IN THE COMPETITION FOR CONTRACTS TO
RETROFIT LIBYAN BOATS TO MAKE THEM SUITABLE FOR TRAINING
DIVERS (REF C). DE MOHR TOLD US THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY
SUCH INTEREST ON THE PART OF ITALIAN FIRMS.
SKODON