MTAG 05-96: IRANIAN UAV/CRUISE MISSILE ENTITY

S E C R E T HELSINKI 000117 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016 TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL FI MTCRE SUBJECT: MTAG 05-96: IRANIAN UAV/CRUISE MISSILE ENTITY GHOODS AVIATION INDUSTRIES - FINNISH RESPONSE REF: STATE 19038 Classified By: POLCHIEF GREGORY THOME FOR REASONS 1.5 (B),(D) (S) On February 8, PolChief delivered subject demarche to Laura Kansikas-Debrais, Director of the Finnish MFA's Unit for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation. Kansikas-Debrais told PolChief that the GOF has no evidence of any contact between the Iranian entity Ghoods Aviation Industries and any Finnish firm. However, she did note that she has become aware, through MTCR channels, that Ghoods has approached some MTCR Partner countries. She assured us that if such contact were to occur, Finland's concern about the volatile situation in Iran would ensure deep suspicion toward any potential sale to Ghoods and an almost certain denial of export license from her office. HYATT