POTENTIAL EGYPTIAN VIOLATION OF ARMS EXPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003135 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2016 TAGS: PREL ETTC KOMC EG SUBJECT: POTENTIAL EGYPTIAN VIOLATION OF ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT--SYNCHROLIFT Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). (C) Officers from the Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation and the Defense Attache Office and the Ambassador have seen the FMF-purchased synchrolift in Alexandria being used to service civilian vessels within the past month. During two separate visits to Alexandria, officers saw the the Syrian-flagged maritime vessel Ahmad Brenc and the North Korean-flagged vessel Lady Rama in the working area of or on the synchrolift. When asked about the use of the synchrolift to service civilian vessels, the Defense Minister's senior advisor, MG Fouad Abdel Halim, said he would investigate. To date, he has said only that the North Korean-flagged vessel is owned by an Egytian, Ismail Fatallah, under the Al Safa Agency. He has not offered any additional information on the Syrian-flagged vessel and has not offered an explanation as to why the lift is being used to service non-Egyptian vessels. Please advise if the Department needs further information to evaluate this report and determine whether the civilian use of the lift violates Section Three of the Arms Export Control Act. RICCIARDONE