SWITZERLAND DENIES EXPORTS OF NON-CONTROLLED GOODS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 001101

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/MTR, T AND EUR/AGS/SAINT-ANDRE, TRICK, MOON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2012
TAGS: PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND DENIES EXPORTS OF NON-CONTROLLED GOODS
BASED ON USG INFORMATION -- REQUEST USG COOPERATION IN
AVOIDING UNDERCUTTING OF DENIAL BY U.S. FIRM


Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Stanley A. Otto for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d)


1. (C) On November 21, Embassy Pol/Econ Counselor was called
to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to
meet with the Head of the Export Control and Sanctions
Division Othmar Wyss regarding a GOS export denial based on
USG information presented on August 14, 2007. SECO Chief of
Dual-Use Export Controls Juergen Boehler participated in
the meeting, along with Export control Division Deputy
Rebekka Wullimann.


2. (C) Wyss began by noting that in the spirit of Swiss-U.S.
non-proliferation partnership the GOS would like to apprise
the USG of on-going efforts to counter procurement attempts
by entities associated with the Pakistani missile program.
Wyss explained that in August 2007, Switzerland received
information through the U.S. Embassy in Bern indicating that
Pakistan,s Mechanical Engineering Workshop (Plot 174,
I-10/3, Industrial Area, Islamabad, tel. 92 (51) 431-9223)
was acting as a cover for the National Development Complex,
which oversees the development and production of the Shaheen
series of ballistic missiles.


3. (C) According to Wyss, based on this information,
Switzerland is denying under the catch-all clause a recent
request for an export license for coating and dispensing
equipment to the aforementioned Mechanical Engineering
Workshop.


4. (C) Wyss added that in the process of evaluating this
request, the GOS has become aware that a U.S. company,
Asymtek, based in Carlsbad, California, may be attempting to
deliver coating and dispensing equipment to the Mechanical
Engineering Workshop via Singapore.


5. (C) The GOS therefore requests that the USG take necessary
steps to prevent an inadvertent undercutting of the catch-all
denial issued by the Swiss Government on November 21 in the
framework of the MTCR.
ROSEN