Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS804
2008-06-09 14:18:00
SECRET
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
UPDATE ON POTENTIAL SALES TO IRAN AND SYRIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #0804 1611418 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 091418Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1949 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0294 RUCNDT/US MISSION USUN NEW YORK
S E C R E T ATHENS 000804
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL GR IR SY PGOV
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POTENTIAL SALES TO IRAN AND SYRIA
REF: ATHENS 63
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER.
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T ATHENS 000804
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL GR IR SY PGOV
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POTENTIAL SALES TO IRAN AND SYRIA
REF: ATHENS 63
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER.
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) On 2 June POLOFF met with Loukas Tsokos, First
Secretary at the MFA D1 Directorate of UN and International
Organizations at the latter's request to discuss GOG findings
on potential sales to Iran and Syria by Greek firm, XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Tsokas said XXXXXXXXXXXX's main product was fishing nets and
according to Greek Customs, this nets had nver been declared
dual or military use. Tsokos added that XXXXXXXXXXXX had never
submitted an application to export to countries of high risk
such as Iran and Syria. From 2004 and 2008, XXXXXXXXXXXX had
exported to "FYROM" (Republic of Macedonia),Serbia,
Pakistan, and Cyprus. In all cases, XXXXXXXXXXXX declared to Greek
Customs that it was exporting fishing nets. Tsokos said the
GOG suspected, however, that the receiving companies from
these countries are then selling XXXXXXXXXXXX's products to other
countries. In particular, Tsokos said, the report mentioned
the Serbian company Mile Dragic Production which was linked
to a 2005 military equipment procurement scandal worth 300
million Euro. The report also said Mile Dragic Production
had been associated with an organied crime team based in
Serbia -"Zemun".
2. (S) Despite our earlier suggestion (ref),Tsokos said no
GOG officials had spoken with XXXXXXXXXXXX about these issues. He
added the GOG was keeping a "close eye" and is following all
its activities. He reiterated earlier assurances that should
XXXXXXXXXXXX seek permission to export to a high risk country, the
GOG would deny such requests.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL GR IR SY PGOV
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON POTENTIAL SALES TO IRAN AND SYRIA
REF: ATHENS 63
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER.
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) On 2 June POLOFF met with Loukas Tsokos, First
Secretary at the MFA D1 Directorate of UN and International
Organizations at the latter's request to discuss GOG findings
on potential sales to Iran and Syria by Greek firm, XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Tsokas said XXXXXXXXXXXX's main product was fishing nets and
according to Greek Customs, this nets had nver been declared
dual or military use. Tsokos added that XXXXXXXXXXXX had never
submitted an application to export to countries of high risk
such as Iran and Syria. From 2004 and 2008, XXXXXXXXXXXX had
exported to "FYROM" (Republic of Macedonia),Serbia,
Pakistan, and Cyprus. In all cases, XXXXXXXXXXXX declared to Greek
Customs that it was exporting fishing nets. Tsokos said the
GOG suspected, however, that the receiving companies from
these countries are then selling XXXXXXXXXXXX's products to other
countries. In particular, Tsokos said, the report mentioned
the Serbian company Mile Dragic Production which was linked
to a 2005 military equipment procurement scandal worth 300
million Euro. The report also said Mile Dragic Production
had been associated with an organied crime team based in
Serbia -"Zemun".
2. (S) Despite our earlier suggestion (ref),Tsokos said no
GOG officials had spoken with XXXXXXXXXXXX about these issues. He
added the GOG was keeping a "close eye" and is following all
its activities. He reiterated earlier assurances that should
XXXXXXXXXXXX seek permission to export to a high risk country, the
GOG would deny such requests.
SPECKHARD