UAE MFA ON PROLIFERATION SHIPMENTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001803 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR T, ISN/CPI, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2027 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC IR IZ AE SUBJECT: UAE MFA ON PROLIFERATION SHIPMENTS REF: A. ABU DHABI 1726 ¶B. ABU DHABI 1670 ¶C. ABU DHABI 1593 ¶D. ABU DHABI 1535. ABU DHABI 1695 Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1. 4 b, c, and d. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see Para 10. ¶2. (S/NF) Summary: On October 28, MFA International Organizations Director Yacoub Al-Hosani provided Econchief with information on four containers (two from the Iran Tabatabaei, one from the YM Energy and one from the M/V Sinotrans Qingdao) that the UAEG had detained at our request. He asked for any further information that the USG could provide, explaining that he wanted to "close the files" on the cases, either by returning the goods, where appropriate or allowing them to continue, where there was no information that they were destined to a designated end user. He explained that the UAEG was still investigating the two UAE companies shipping PVC tubes used in Iraqi IEDs. With regard to the UAEG's export control law, he confirmed that it was finalizing the regulations, but argued that it would be premature to schedule training until the Commodity Control Committee and its executive body, were up and staffed with the right people, which was not yet the case. End Summary. ¶3. (S/NF) Econchief met with Yacoub Al-Hosani, MFA Director of International Organizations (and MFA representative on the Counterproliferation task force on October 28 at Al-Hosani's request. Al-Hosani wanted to "close the files" on four containers (two from the Iran Tabatabaei, one from the YM Energy and one from the M/V Sinotrans Qingdao) that the UAE had detained based on our information and request. Al-Hosani explained the containers had been stopped under executive order, before passage of the UAE's export control law. In order to assist with USG investigations, Al-Hosani passed over further information (including photos of the M/V Sinotrans Qingdao and Y/M Energy shipments, which post is scanning and sending to Department). Al-Hosani explained that the UAEG was providing the photos in response to Embassy's requests for either photos or access to the shipments. He noted, parenthetically, that Dubai security had insisted on hand-delivering the photos to him rather than e-mailing them due to security concerns. M/V Iran Tabatabaei -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Al-Hosani passed Econchief a paper on the two containers (IRSU 2222420, and IRSU 2173901) detained from the Iran Tabatabaei. Based on the investigation of the containers the UAEG has determined that: -- Container number IRSU2222420 contains: finished (finishing?) steel type MIL-S-5000, which is used in defense industries as aircraft parts, and finished aluminum consigned to Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (Hesa) in Isfahan, Iran (SB 81465). The bank supporting the transaction is given as Bank Mellat, Zemead Tehran Branch: The shipper is Jetpower Industrial Limited, Hong Kong -- Container number IRSU2173901 contains: aluminum sheets, No: 7075. It appears from the code (label) that they are used in aviation manufacturing. The sheets are destined to Yazd Metallurgical Industries, Tehran Iran. According to information on the banding, the aluminum sheets are manufactured in Germany. The shipper is Aero Dynamic Industries Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia UAE authorities have stopped the goods and prevented anyone from accessing the containers. Y/M Energy -------------- 5 (S/N) Al-Hosani provided econchief with a copy of the informal note, passed previously to Ambassador onOctober 4, regarding the Y/M Energy (Ref B). Tha note states that the UAE was unable to develop aconfirmed connection between the Iranian recipiet and the Shahid Hammit Industrial Group (SHIG) nd that the materials involved are commercial alminum. It further requests any information that te USG can provide showing a connection between th stated end-user and SHIG. ¶6. (S/NF) Al-Hosan also provided a copy of the cargo ABU DHABI 00001803 002 OF 002 manifest for the shipment as well as photos (both scanned for transmission to Department). The Cargo Manifest is a Yang Ming Line Manifest. The agent is Pioneer Shipping Agency LLC. Port of Loading: Shanghai; Port of Discharge and Delivery: Bander Abbas. The Shipper is listed as Zhangjiagang Huacheng Import Export Company, Ltd.. The consignee and Notify are listed as Machine Pardazan Co. Ltd, Office: NO 29 1st Floor, Alvand St, Argentine Sq. Tehran, Iran. The shipper's load and count is 1 20-foot container containing Cold-Draw Seamless Tubes (Number of packs: 14; Seal Number 17383; tare wt. 2360; gross wt (Kg) 19,878; volume (CM) 18). The photos are of blue and red capped steel tubes, wrapped in plastic. The label describes the tubes as CDS steel Tubes; standard umber D/N 23 P1 BK; steel grade ¶400. M/V Sinotrans Qingdao -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) Al-Hosani also passed over a message regarding container number CMAU 1398341 carried on the M/V Sinotrans Qingdao and containing finishing steel. The results of the UAEG's investigation are that the container contained an unknown classification of finishing (finished?) steel. There were no markings on the steel regarding its type. The UAE confirms that the shipper is the China North Wanxing International Corporation, Beijing, China. Tel: 008610-88470396. Al-Hosani passed a draft bill of lading for the shipment, which gives as consignee and notify party: Sazemane Sanaye Depa 6075/13/5 Tehran, Iran Tel: (appears to be) 0098-2122566878. Photos include photos of the 12 wooden cases and of the tubes. Modern Plastics Industry and A & N Group -------------- ¶8. (S/NF) In response to Econchief's question, Al-Hosani said that customs and security services were still investigating the above companies and he did not yet have information to share on them. Econchief reiterated USG interest in learning the results of the investigation and in stopping shipments that could be used in manufacturing improvised explosive devices. UAE Export Control Law and Training Schedule -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Econchief asked Al-Hosani about the status of the UAE's export control regulations and reiterated that the USG was interested in capitalizing on the successful legal and regulatory workshop held in September (ref D). Al-Hosani stated that the draft regulations were almost ready and would be sent to the cabinet for approval, when completed. He explained that the UAEG still needed to finalize procedures and to change some of the members of the strategic goods committee. He expressed concern that the MFA did not have the resources to staff the committee, adding that UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (AbZ) had not yet named the MFA chair. He suggested it would be premature to schedule training until committee membership and support staff issues were resolved. Action Request -------------- ¶10. (S/NF) Please provide any additional information on the above cases that we can share with the UAEG to help with its determination. Please treat the photos (set to NEA/ARP and ISN/CPI) as Secret. SISON