UAE TELLS CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO RECALL SHIPMENT OF

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000755

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR T, ISN, NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2032
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC IR CH AE
SUBJECT: UAE TELLS CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO RECALL SHIPMENT OF
PROLIFERATION CONCERN

REF: A. ABU DHABI 743


B. STATE 60894

C. ABU DHABI 737

D. ABU DHABI 734

E. ABU DHABI 728

F. STATE 58623

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


1. (U) This is an urgent action request. Please see para 4.


2. (S) Econchief called MFA Director for International
Organizations Yacoub Al-Hosani (a member of the UAE
Counterproliferation Task Force) on May 9 to follow-up on
the three containers that the UAE unloaded from the M/V Iran
Tehran. Al-Hosani said that he had called in the Chinese
Ambassador to the UAE, on May 8, to inform him about the
shipment and to pass an MFA letter of instruction urging the
Chinese to accept the return of the first container. He said
that the shipment was an "unacceptable violation" of UNSCRs
1737 and 1747. Al-Hosani said that he told the Ambassador
that the USG had already informed the Chinese authorities
about the shipment, and that the UAE valued its cooperation
with the GoC and did not want to "complain to the UN Security
Council that a member was violating the Council's
resolutions." Al-Hosani also said that the MFA would
communicate with the UAE Embassy in Beijing today to have the
Embassy follow-up.


3. (S) Econchief asked about the status of the second and
third containers, noting that JAMCO had a history of
facilitating transfers to UNSCR designated companies.
Econchief also noted that the machine tools could make a
contribution to Iran's missile program. Al-Hosani explained
that the UAE's customs and security services investigation
had determined that there was no indication that these
containers were going to a designated entity. They had also
determined that the items were not MTCR-controlled and
appeared to be destined for civil, rather than proliferation,
use. He added that the UAE intelligence services had
investigated the company involved and had not uncovered
"anything suspicious." Al-Hosani stressed that the UAE had
no proof justifying holding the second and third containers
and could not hold them much longer, absent any further
compelling information that the containers were destined for
a UNSCR controlled entity.


4. (S) Action Request: Please provide any additional
information that post can share with the UAEG about the
second and third containers indicating that they are
violations of UNSCRs 1737 or 1747, and which would cause the
UAEG to reopen its investigation. End Action Request.
SISON