SHIELD S13A-05: FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON

S E C R E T VIENNA 003920 SIPDIS FOR ISN/CB, ISN/CPI, EUR/AGS, AND EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC IR AU CBW SUBJECT: SHIELD S13A-05: FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON VOGELBUSCH AND KIMIA GHARB GOSTAR INDUSTRIES (S) REF: A) VIENNA 3774 B) STATE 214028 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips for reasons 1.4 (b),(d),and (h). ¶1. (S) On January 19, Econ Unit Chief met with Helmut Krehlik, Head of the Ministry of Economy's Export Control Division to discuss the Austrian firm Vogelbusch's possible sale of technology and equipment for a citric acid production line to the Iranian firm Kimia Gharb Gostar Industries. Krehlik said he and an official from the Austrian security services (BVT) had raised concerns with Vogelbusch's Executive Vice President Josef Modl. Modl told Krehlik that Vogelbusch owned 25% plus 1 share of Kimia Gharb Gostar's citric acid production facility, as well as providing service and maintenance for the entire facility. According to Modl, the Iranians "could not modify any of the equipment without Vogelbusch's knowledge." ¶2. (S) Previously a part of the state-run conglomerate Voest Alpine, Vogelbusch, in Krehlik's opinion, was "clean." Krehlik added that Vogelbusch routinely referred questionable biotech projects to a reputable chemist, Professor Zehtner at the Technical University. Krehlik recalled that in 2003, Vogelbusch had waited six months to address concerns raised by the USG regarding a project in Iran. According to Krehlik, by the time Vogelbusch had addressed these concerns, a UK firm had already received the contract. MCCAW