MTAG: SYRIA'S MISSILE PROGRAM SEEKING CNC

S E C R E T PRAGUE 000659

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP/CBM, EUR/PRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL MNUC SY EZ MTCR
SUBJECT: MTAG: SYRIA'S MISSILE PROGRAM SEEKING CNC
MACHINING CENTERS (S)

REF: SECSTATE 71707

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Mark Canning for reasons 1.4
(a) (b) and (c)


1. (S) Czech officials responsible for non-proliferation
issues told poloff May 4th that the machine which is the
subject of reftel was never exported to Syria. Poloff was
shown a copy of the MTCR denial notification, MI-CZ-05-001,
dated January 12, 2005. The notification was sent to
appropriate MTCR officials in Paris, and to the EU in
Brussels.


2. (S) Information from the MTCR notification reads, Vertical
Machining Centre Model MCV 1000 Sprint 5 AX CNC, quantity 3
NAR, valued at EURO 775,362, was denied based on the Catch
All classification. The consignee and end user is Handasieh
General Organization for Engineering, Address: Abou Baker All
Seddeq Street, Damsacus, Syria, Telefax 963-11-512 80 19.
The reason for the denial is stated as, "Unacceptable risk of
diversion to a missile program of concern."


3. (S) The export license for this machine was submitted to
the MFA on 06 Aug 2004. That license was issued on 18 Aug

2004. However, after hearing from the Czech intel agency
BIS, the MFA revoked the license on 23 Dec 2004, before any
exports took place.
CABANISS