NONPAPER DELIVERED ON UAE FIRM'S INTEREST IN CONTROLLED

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000867 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/MTR/JHERRMANN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE KGIC KNNP IR AE SUBJECT: NONPAPER DELIVERED ON UAE FIRM'S INTEREST IN CONTROLLED SWISS MACHINE TOOLS REF: STATE 80523 Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, Reasons 1.4 (b,d). (S) On July 29, POLCHIEF and TDY ECONOFF delivered reftel nonpaper to MFA Director for European, American, and Oceanic Affairs Ali Al Zarouni regarding UAE firm Golden Triangle Testing Equipment L.L.C.'s interest in procuring fifty g-Mill 550 Twin machine tools from the Swiss firm Liechti Engineering AG. ECONOFF explained that the tools are believed to be controlled by the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement and may be well suited to manufacturing ballistic missile components. Noting that we would pass additional information along as it becomes available, we asked the UAE to investigate the matter, stressing the dangers of such materiel falling into Iran's hands. Zarouni thanked the Embassy for the information and stated he would pass it to relevant UAE officials. (Note: Our primary non-proliferation contact, MFA Director for International Organizations Yacub al-Hosani, is not available until mid-August, after which time we will follow up with him. End note). QUINN