IRANIAN EFFORTS TO PROCURE BW-RELATED TECHNOLOGY

S E C R E T HELSINKI 000735

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO NP/CBM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2015
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC IR FI
SUBJECT: IRANIAN EFFORTS TO PROCURE BW-RELATED TECHNOLOGY
FROM FINLAND

REF: SECSTATE 120302

Classified By: POLOFF DAVID ALLEN SCHLAEFER FOR REASON 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 3.


2. (S) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Finnish
officials from the MFA's Middle-East Bureau and
Non-Proliferation Unit. The officials were unaware of the
MOU cited in reftel and said that they would need to
investigate the issue further before responding. They said
that Finland in general shared US concerns about Iranian
nuclear proliferation, strongly supported ongoing EU-3
efforts to reach agreement with Iran, and understood US
concerns about possible transfers of BW technologies to the
Iranians. The Finns did not know what the reference in
reftel points to the "Academy of Finland" referred to.


3. (S) Action Request: The fourth bullet in reftel talking
points states that IROST signed a memorandum of understanding
for scientific cooperation with the Academy of Finland.
Finnish MFA officials did not know what institution this
referred to. Post requests clarification on exactly what
institution signed the MOU with the Iranians. It would be
most helpful to have the Finnish name of the institution in
question.
WEISBERG