ARMS CONTROL DEMARCHES DELIVERED RE SYRIA AND

S E C R E T BELGRADE 001308

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016
TAGS: PARM BEXP PREL SR SY VE
SUBJECT: ARMS CONTROL DEMARCHES DELIVERED RE SYRIA AND
VENEZUELA

REF: A. STATE 132053


B. STATE 132722

Classified By: Ambassador Michael Polt, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (s) We delivered reftel demarches in separate meetings
with Assistant DEFMIN for Material Resources COL Markovic,
MFA Chief of the Directorate for Arms Control Branka
Latinovic, and YugoImport Director Stevan Nikcevic August
15-17. In each meeting, we impressed upon our interlocutors
the seriousness of these potential sales and the scrutiny
these countries will continue to receive. We received
assurances across the board that no proposed sales have come
to government channels for approval/export licensing, and
Nikcevic added that his office has had little or no contact
with wither Venezuela or Syria, and in the latter case
especially since the beginning of OIF. All agreed that any
such sales would do far more harm than good in the long run
to their arms export industry and to their international
reputation.


2. (s) As they have in the past, we expect the GoS and
YugoImport to cooperate fully with us on this issue. We have
asked them to inform us of any license applications for
exports to either country (and to deny them),and to keep us
apprised of any travel of Syrian or Venezuelan officials to
Serbia.
MOORE