Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BERLIN943
2007-05-10 13:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMANY EXERCISING VIGILANCE AND RESTRAINT WHEN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000943
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN AND EUR/AGS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY EXERCISING VIGILANCE AND RESTRAINT WHEN
CONSIDERING TRAVEL OF UNSC DESIGNATED IRANIANS TO OR
THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY
REF: STATE 61222
Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski, for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000943
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN AND EUR/AGS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY EXERCISING VIGILANCE AND RESTRAINT WHEN
CONSIDERING TRAVEL OF UNSC DESIGNATED IRANIANS TO OR
THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY
REF: STATE 61222
Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski, for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Global Affairs officer delivered ref demarche to Desk
Officer Mirko Schilbach of the German MFA's UN Policy
Division May 9. Schilbach was not aware that Russia had
admitted Iranian General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, whose travel
is sanctioned under UNSCR 1747, entry into Russia in early
April. He said he would share the information with
appropriate members of the German Government.
2. (C) In response to our question about air travel between
Germany and Iran, Schilbach said that Germany's Lufthansa and
Iran's Iran Air have regularly scheduled flights between the
two countries. Schilbach noted that after the December 2006
passage of UNSCR 1737 Germany increased its vigilance over
travelers from Iran to ensure that no sanctioned individuals
could enter the country. In addition, Schilbach said, the
EU, after adopting its Common Position on implementing UNSCR
1737 sanctions, created its own list of individuals from Iran
who should be denied entry into any EU member. Germany
abides by this EU list, Schilbach added.
3. (C) Schilbach described the screening process to prevent
sanctioned individuals from entering Germany. First, he said
that Iran Air requires all passengers to Germany to have a
valid visa before boarding their airplane. In case a
sanctioned individual applies for a visa, Germany would deny
it, so the individual should not even be able to board a
plane bound for Germany, Schilbach said. If Iran Air
mistakenly flies a passenger without a valid visa to Germany,
then Iran Air has to return that passenger and pay a
substantial fine to the German Government, according to
Schilbach.
4. (C) Schilbach cited the possibility of a sanctioned
individual possessing a valid visa that was issued before the
sanctions were implemented. Even though Iran Air could allow
that individual to board an airplane for Germany, German
immigration officials would deny him entry into the country.
Schilbach noted that Germany performs an immigration check on
every passenger arriving from Iran. Sanctioned individuals,
even with a pre-sanctions visa, would be denied entry.
Schilbach noted that many Iranians still receive visas, but
they come for legitimate purposes, such as for authorized
trade and visiting relatives in Germany.
5. (C) Concerning Russia's admittance of Zolqadr, Schilbach
said it was unhelpful, despite the Russian notification to
the UN Sanctions Committee, as stipulated in UNSCR 1737. In
Schilbach's view, Russia should not have given Iran the
opportunity to exploit Zolqadr's visit for propaganda
BERLIN 00000943 002 OF 002
purposes. He also said Russia bears some responsibility for
ensuring that the sanctions on Iran were not tougher. It is
because the UN sanctions were "softer" than the Europeans
preferred that the EU added its own sanctions on certain
Iranians and also banned the export of certain items to Iran,
Schilbach said.
6. (C) When asked about the possibility of discussing the
Zolqadr visit with any Russian officials in Germany,
Schilbach said he had no contacts with the Russian Embassy.
He suggested that perhaps colleagues of his could discuss
this visit with Russian counterparts but otherwise offered
nothing definite.
7. (C) Concerning sanctions on Iran, Schilbach said the
German Government "has heard" that future sanctions on Iran,
if made too tough, will actually prompt a majority of the
Iranian population to rally around its leadership. Schilbach
did not elaborate on the source of this information. He said
the ideal solution is to find the right balance between
sanctions that pressure the Iranian government into complying
with the IAEA without driving the Iranian population to the
government's side. He had no suggestions on what that
balance might be.
8. (SBU) Post will report septel any other significant German
reaction to the issue of considering travel by
UNSC-designated Iranians.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN AND EUR/AGS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: IR KNNP PARM RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY EXERCISING VIGILANCE AND RESTRAINT WHEN
CONSIDERING TRAVEL OF UNSC DESIGNATED IRANIANS TO OR
THROUGH THEIR TERRITORY
REF: STATE 61222
Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski, for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Global Affairs officer delivered ref demarche to Desk
Officer Mirko Schilbach of the German MFA's UN Policy
Division May 9. Schilbach was not aware that Russia had
admitted Iranian General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, whose travel
is sanctioned under UNSCR 1747, entry into Russia in early
April. He said he would share the information with
appropriate members of the German Government.
2. (C) In response to our question about air travel between
Germany and Iran, Schilbach said that Germany's Lufthansa and
Iran's Iran Air have regularly scheduled flights between the
two countries. Schilbach noted that after the December 2006
passage of UNSCR 1737 Germany increased its vigilance over
travelers from Iran to ensure that no sanctioned individuals
could enter the country. In addition, Schilbach said, the
EU, after adopting its Common Position on implementing UNSCR
1737 sanctions, created its own list of individuals from Iran
who should be denied entry into any EU member. Germany
abides by this EU list, Schilbach added.
3. (C) Schilbach described the screening process to prevent
sanctioned individuals from entering Germany. First, he said
that Iran Air requires all passengers to Germany to have a
valid visa before boarding their airplane. In case a
sanctioned individual applies for a visa, Germany would deny
it, so the individual should not even be able to board a
plane bound for Germany, Schilbach said. If Iran Air
mistakenly flies a passenger without a valid visa to Germany,
then Iran Air has to return that passenger and pay a
substantial fine to the German Government, according to
Schilbach.
4. (C) Schilbach cited the possibility of a sanctioned
individual possessing a valid visa that was issued before the
sanctions were implemented. Even though Iran Air could allow
that individual to board an airplane for Germany, German
immigration officials would deny him entry into the country.
Schilbach noted that Germany performs an immigration check on
every passenger arriving from Iran. Sanctioned individuals,
even with a pre-sanctions visa, would be denied entry.
Schilbach noted that many Iranians still receive visas, but
they come for legitimate purposes, such as for authorized
trade and visiting relatives in Germany.
5. (C) Concerning Russia's admittance of Zolqadr, Schilbach
said it was unhelpful, despite the Russian notification to
the UN Sanctions Committee, as stipulated in UNSCR 1737. In
Schilbach's view, Russia should not have given Iran the
opportunity to exploit Zolqadr's visit for propaganda
BERLIN 00000943 002 OF 002
purposes. He also said Russia bears some responsibility for
ensuring that the sanctions on Iran were not tougher. It is
because the UN sanctions were "softer" than the Europeans
preferred that the EU added its own sanctions on certain
Iranians and also banned the export of certain items to Iran,
Schilbach said.
6. (C) When asked about the possibility of discussing the
Zolqadr visit with any Russian officials in Germany,
Schilbach said he had no contacts with the Russian Embassy.
He suggested that perhaps colleagues of his could discuss
this visit with Russian counterparts but otherwise offered
nothing definite.
7. (C) Concerning sanctions on Iran, Schilbach said the
German Government "has heard" that future sanctions on Iran,
if made too tough, will actually prompt a majority of the
Iranian population to rally around its leadership. Schilbach
did not elaborate on the source of this information. He said
the ideal solution is to find the right balance between
sanctions that pressure the Iranian government into complying
with the IAEA without driving the Iranian population to the
government's side. He had no suggestions on what that
balance might be.
8. (SBU) Post will report septel any other significant German
reaction to the issue of considering travel by
UNSC-designated Iranians.
TIMKEN JR