NETHERLANDS REPLY ON DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001848

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NP/ECNP FOR C.KESSLER AND R.GAREL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC NL PARM ECON
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS REPLY ON DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON
TECHNOLOGIES

REF: STATE 183590

On July 18, Dutch Wassenaar Arrangement delegate Theo Regier
sent EconOff the attached note in response to ref demarche on
diamond-like carbon technologies:

BEGIN TEXT

Wassenaar Arrangement Controls for Diamond Like Carbon
Technologies -- Reply by the Netherlands to the United States
Note received through the US Embassy in The Hague on 1 July
2003:

The Netherlands thanks the United States for raising the
issue of continuing controls over diamond like carbon (DLC)
technologies. We trust that the information provided below
adequately clarifies the position taken by The Netherlands in
the Expert Group (EG) of the Wassenaar Arrangement on this
issue.

When the US proposal on DLC controls was discussed at the
April 2003 meeting of the EG, the Netherlands asked for
"study time" and stated that an extension of the validity
would be an option. This position has been clearly reflected
in the report of the Chairman WA-EG(03)CHAIR009. This does
not necessarily imply that we advocate lifting controls of
DLC technology by letting the validity note expire. Asking
for "study time" on complex issues is a normal procedure
within the List Review process which is used by all WA
Participating States, including the US.

We have since posed several technical questions to the US
Delegation to the EG, particularly on the use of DLC coating
technology in Beryllium alloys. This unleashed a discussion
that is still ongoing. Our experts claim that DLC coating on
Beryllium has so far only been used for military goods. This
would mean that DLC coating technology on Beryllium should be
controlled under ML22 of the Munitions List, together with
other military technologies. On the other hand, DLC coating
on Beryllium-alloys (Note: "alloys" bolded in original text.
End Note.) is widely used in civilian applications, e.g. in
the field of mould production for die-casting and injection
molding of plastics and other synthetic materials. Therefore
we would like an extension of the exclusion note in this
particular field.

The intent is to discuss the issue of DLC coating during the
intercessional expert meeting in London in late July 2003, as
organized by the UK.

The Netherlands is confident that mutually acceptable
conclusion can be reached.

END TEXT

RUSSEL