(S) SHIPMENT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN- UAE RESPONSE

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000728

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR T, ISN, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2032
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR CH AE
SUBJECT: (S) SHIPMENT OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN- UAE RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 58623

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b, c, and d
).


1. (S) Summary: On May 2, Econchief and DHS/ICE Dubai
delivered reftel demarche to the MFA and to Dubai Customs.
The MFA conveyed instructions to Dubai authorities to
investigate. The ship arrived in Dubai the afternoon of May
2, but we do not yet have an estimated time of departure.
The MFA has asked whether we have conveyed information about
the shipment to the Chinese authorities. End Summary.


2. (S) On May 2, Econchief delivered reftel demarche to MFA
Director for International Organizations Yacoub Al-Hosani (a
member of the UAE Counterproliferation Task Force) and
encouraged the UAE to take all necessary and appropriate
measures to prevent cargo of possible proliferation concern
from reaching end users associated with Iran's ballistic
missile program. Al-Hosani immediately conveyed instructions
to Dubai Customs, the Ministry of Interior, and Dubai's State
Security Office to investigate and to work with the U.S. The
same day DHS/ICE Dubai provided Dubai Customs with the same
information.


3. (S) Al-Hosani reiterated the UAEG's standing request for
earlier notification, noting that the request was being made
on the day the ship was due to arrive in Dubai. He explained
that coordinating the efforts of a number of federal and
emirate level agencies was a time consuming, bureaucratic
process. Econchief noted that we try to pass information as
quickly as possible, but that sometimes we only get the
information as a shipment of concern was en route, a point
Al-Hosani accepted.


4. (S) Al-Hosani asked whether we had informed Chinese
authorities about the shipment or whether the information had
come from China to the U.S. He explained that -- if the UAE
found anything -- it would need to inform the Chinese
Embassy. He didn't want the Chinese to be surprised,
especially if the UAE needed to return the goods. In
addition, he said, it was always useful to remind the Chinese
that they had obligations under the UNSCRs as well. For its
part, the UAE wanted to work in partnership with both the
Chinese and the U.S. to enforce UNSCRs.


5. (S) Al-Hosani also asked whether we knew if the goods were
being unloaded in the UAE or if the M/V Iran Tehran was
simply refueling. He expressed concern that if the vessel
was just refueling it would complicate the UAE's efforts to
stop and inspect the shipment.


6. (S) Dubai DHS/ICE provided ref information to contacts at
Dubai Customs on the morning of May 2. At 1630, Dubai
Customs reported that the ship had arrived at Port Rashid at
1300 and was in berth 33. We do not yet have information on
estimated time of departure. Customs also informed us that
the suspect containers were not scheduled to be off loaded in
Dubai. We will continue to report on developments.
SISON