THAI CONTACT INFORMATION PASSED TO MFA

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000383 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR T, ISN, EAP, AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/26/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETRD ETTC TH AE SUBJECT: THAI CONTACT INFORMATION PASSED TO MFA REFS: A) BANGKOK 949, B) STATE 28977, C) ABU DHABI 352, D) ABU DHABI 178 Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (B),(C), and (D). ¶1. (S) On March 25, Econchief contacted MFA International Organizations Director Yacub Al-Hosani with regard to the shipment of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF) shipped from Thailand to Iran via Dubai. Econchief thanked Al-Hosani for the continued detention of the shipment and told Al-Hosani that we had urged the Thai authorities to cooperate in the shipment's recall. Econchief also passed Al-Hosani Thai contact information for the case. ¶2. (S) Al-Hosani expressed appreciation for the contact details and said that the UAE Embassy in Bangkok would get in touch with the Thai point of contact. He asked for any information on the Thai reaction to the demarche and expressed his hope that the USG would continue to press the issue as well. It was important, he stressed, for the Thai authorities to ensure that the AHF was not re-exported from Thailand on its arrival. Al-Hosani also reiterated his concerns that the UAEG does not have a strong enough case to take to court, adding that the Iranians have been pressuring the government, at all levels, to release all the shipments (ref d). QUINN