Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME571
2003-02-12 16:20:00
SECRET
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY HOLDS UP SHIPMENT OF FAST BOATS TO IRAN

Tags:  ETTC IR PARM PREL IT EXPORT CONTROLS 
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S E C R E T ROME 000571 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2013
TAGS: ETTC IR PARM PREL IT EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALY HOLDS UP SHIPMENT OF FAST BOATS TO IRAN

REF: A. ROME 562


B. ROME 445

C. ROME 399 AND PREVIOUS

D. STATE 29285

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION SCOTT KILNER
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)(D)

S E C R E T ROME 000571

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2013
TAGS: ETTC IR PARM PREL IT EXPORT CONTROLS
SUBJECT: ITALY HOLDS UP SHIPMENT OF FAST BOATS TO IRAN

REF: A. ROME 562


B. ROME 445

C. ROME 399 AND PREVIOUS

D. STATE 29285

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION SCOTT KILNER
FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)(D)


1. (S) FOLLOWING ANOTHER EMBASSY INQUIRY TO THE MFA ON
FEBRUARY 11, GIUSEPPE MANZO, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR
GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MARCELLO SPATAFORA, TOLD ECONOFF
FEBRUARY 12 THAT SPATAFORA HAD CONTACTED THE ITALIAN COMPANY
SB DESIGN TWO DAYS AGO TO ASK THEM TO HALT THE IMPENDING
SHIPMENT OF HIGH-SPEED PATROL BOATS TO IRAN. MANZO SAID THE
COMPANY ACCEDED TO SPATAFORA'S REQUEST, PROMISING NOT TO
DELIVER AT THIS TIME A SHIPMENT OF TWO CONTAINERS EXPECTED TO
LEAVE THE COMPANY'S PLANT IN LOMBARDY FOR NAPLES WITHIN DAYS.
(MANZO DID NOT KNOW HOW MANY BOATS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE DELIVERY, NOR COULD HE EXPLAIN THE DISCREPANCY WITH
OUR INFORMATION THAT THE BOATS HAD ALREADY ARRIVED IN NAPLES,
PER REF D.)


2. (S) MANZO EMPHASIZED THAT SPATAFORA'S REQUEST HAD BEEN
"UNOFFICIAL AND UNORTHODOX" AND DONE OUTSIDE OF ANY FORMAL
GOI AUTHORITY, AND THAT THE ULTIMATE "DECISION" TO HALT THE
SHIPMENTS HAD BEEN THAT OF SB DESIGN. MANZO ALSO
CHARACTERIZED THE SHIPMENT AS BEING HALTED "FOR THE MOMENT."


3. (S) COMMENT: SB DESIGN'S COOPERATION WITH THE GOI'S
REQUEST MAY BE LINKED TO ITS APPARENT DESIRE (CONVEYED TO US
EARLIER BY MFA NON PROLIFERATION COORDINATOR DE MOHR) TO WIN
A MUCH MORE LUCRATIVE CONTRACT WITH THE ITALIAN GUARDIA DI
FINANZA (CUSTOMS/IMMIGRATION POLICE). DE MOHR ALSO TOLD US
THAT, FOR "BUSINESS REASONS," THE COMPANY HAS DECIDED NOT TO
PURSUE FURTHER SALES IN IRAN.


4. (S) COMMENT CONT: WE WILL NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE MFA
TO ENSURE THAT THIS TEMPORARY HOLD BECOMES PERMANENT. FOR
THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS CLEAR THAT THE GOI HAS HEARD
OUR MESSAGE AND ACTED UPON IT TO PREVENT HANDING US A FAIT
ACCOMPLI. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER


2003ROME00571 - Classification: SECRET