(S) SHIELD S14A-06: GERMAN REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

S E C R E T BERLIN 000999

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CB, EUR/PRA, AND EUR/AGS
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2057
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL CBW GM IR GR
SUBJECT: (S) SHIELD S14A-06: GERMAN REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
ON SHIPMENT OF CHEMICALS TO IRAN

REF: A. STATE 34341

B. 06 BERLIN 2849

C. 06 BERLIN 2015

D. 06 STATE 11600

Classified By: Global Affairs Counselor Donald R. Shemanski, for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request -- please see paragraph 3.


2. (S) German MFA Export Control Division Desk Officer
Andreas Kauke passed a request from the German Government
concerning ref A and ref D to Global Affairs officer May 10.
Ref D informed the German Government that the XXXXXXXXXXXX shipped over 40 metric tons of chemicals
in June 2006 to the Iranian Defense Industries Organization.
Ref A requested an update of any German investigations into
this transaction. Kauke said German authorities found during
their investigation that the chemical shipped to Iran was
mold powder. This chemical is not listed on any Australia
Group Common List, nor could the German Federal Intelligence
Service (BND) determine any military use for it, Kauke said.
Therefore, the export of this chemical would not require a
license and the exporter violated no German law. Kauke added
that the BND queried U.S. authorities concerning a military
use for mold powder but received no response. Unless the
German authorities receive some information indicating how
the delivery of this chemical violated German export control
laws or otherwise harmed Germany's national security
interests, the authorities have no further action to take.


3. (S) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests guidance to respond to
this German query.
TIMKEN JR