Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN1482
2008-10-31 14:41:00
SECRET
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
ATTEMPTED EXPORT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN HELICOPTERS TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #1482/01 3051441 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 311441Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2513 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0656 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0085 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0574 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9360 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1511 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0233 RUEKJCS/HQ USEUCOM LO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUKAAKC/UDITDUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY RUKAAKA/USAREUR ACE DARMSTADT GE PRIORITY RUEHRL/USDAO BERLIN GE PRIORITY
S E C R E T BERLIN 001482
SIPDIS
EUR FOR EUR/CE AND EUR/RPM
T/PM/DDTC FOR MALONEY
DOD FOR DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGANCY
DSCA FOR MAJ. ORENCHICK
CENTCOM FOR COL. KULVAS
EUCOM / TRANSCOM FOR LNO SIERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2033
TAGS: KOMC PGOV PREL ECCT AF GM
SUBJECT: ATTEMPTED EXPORT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN HELICOPTERS TO
AFGHANISTAN: GERMAN FEDERAL SECURITY COUNCIL EXPECTED TO
ISSUE PERMISSION ON NOVEMBER 5
REF: A. AMEMBASSY BAKU CHARGE DONALD LU EMAIL OF OCTOBER
31
B. BERLIN 1465
Classified By: A\DCM Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T BERLIN 001482
SIPDIS
EUR FOR EUR/CE AND EUR/RPM
T/PM/DDTC FOR MALONEY
DOD FOR DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGANCY
DSCA FOR MAJ. ORENCHICK
CENTCOM FOR COL. KULVAS
EUCOM / TRANSCOM FOR LNO SIERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2033
TAGS: KOMC PGOV PREL ECCT AF GM
SUBJECT: ATTEMPTED EXPORT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN HELICOPTERS TO
AFGHANISTAN: GERMAN FEDERAL SECURITY COUNCIL EXPECTED TO
ISSUE PERMISSION ON NOVEMBER 5
REF: A. AMEMBASSY BAKU CHARGE DONALD LU EMAIL OF OCTOBER
31
B. BERLIN 1465
Classified By: A\DCM Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Summary. The German Federal Security Council
(Bundessicherheitsrat) is likely to reach a formal decision
to permit movement of the three German-origin helicopters to
Afghanistan in a meeting scheduled for November 5 (ref B).
The Chancellery, MFA, Economic Ministry and its export
control agency (BAFA) continue to hold that entry of the
Pumas into Afghanistan or other proscribed countries would
violate German export law, until or unless the government
approves Presidential Airways' (PA's) application to do so.
The Chancellery, however, reportedly supports a favorable
resolution of the matter because of U.S. military airlift
needs in Afghanistan. Chancellor Merkel herself has been
briefed on the case, a fact that demonstrates both the
seriousness with which the Germans are taking this matter,
and their extreme caution on Afghanistan-related issues.
Embassy is encouraging PA to provide written assurances to
the German government that the helicopters will not be
transferred to Afghanistan until formal approval of the
export license. End Summary.
2. (S) On October 30, A/DCM contacted Ambassador Viktor
Elbling (filling in for Ruediger von Fritsch, the DG for
Economic Affairs) in the Foreign Ministry to ascertain the
government's current views on the Puma contract. Elbling was
fully aware of PA's apparent intention to send the
helicopters to Afghanistan without permission from the German
government, and reaffirmed that doing so would clearly
violate German export control laws and subject perpetrators
to possible criminal penalties. We then asked about a story
that the Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation had heard,
to the effect that the Federal Security Council (Germany's
Deputies-level committee for security issues, including arms
sales) might approve PA's earlier application to operate the
Pumas in Afghanistan in a previously scheduled November 5
meeting. Without confirming or denying the story, Elbling
replied that we should check with the Chancellery on this,
and that he could say nothing else on the issue. A/DCM
further confirmed this information with another MFA official
in their Arms Control Division on October 31.
3. (S) On October 31, A/DCM spoke with an official at the
Chancellery who is responsible for arms sales. We emphasized
that we fully supported Germany's export control laws, but
would hope that the Council would support transfer of the
Pumas to Afghanistan, if at all possible, to support the U.S.
military's airlift needs. Our contact confirmed that the
Council would meet on November 5, and that it would deny PA's
application if they flew the helicopters (now in Baku; ref A)
to Afghanistan without German Government permission; on the
other hand, the Council would likely approve the transfer so
long as PA kept the helicopters in Baku for the time being.
The main reason for the apparent shift was that the German
government appreciated the serious need for the helicopters
in Afghanistan and wanted to be helpful to U.S. forces.
4. (S/NF) We asked our Chancellery interlocutor how likely
it was that the Council would approve PA's application. He
explained that he was "80 percent certain" because just that
morning (October 31),he had "briefed Chancellor Merkel and
recommended this action, and she seemed favorably disposed."
To improve the chances of a favorable outcome, the
Chancellery official asked for written assurances from PA
that it would not move the aircraft to Afghan before the
German Government decision on the matter (expected at the
November 5 Council meeting). ODC is sending a message to
this effect to PA today.
Timken Jr
SIPDIS
EUR FOR EUR/CE AND EUR/RPM
T/PM/DDTC FOR MALONEY
DOD FOR DEFENSE SECURITY COOPERATION AGANCY
DSCA FOR MAJ. ORENCHICK
CENTCOM FOR COL. KULVAS
EUCOM / TRANSCOM FOR LNO SIERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2033
TAGS: KOMC PGOV PREL ECCT AF GM
SUBJECT: ATTEMPTED EXPORT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN HELICOPTERS TO
AFGHANISTAN: GERMAN FEDERAL SECURITY COUNCIL EXPECTED TO
ISSUE PERMISSION ON NOVEMBER 5
REF: A. AMEMBASSY BAKU CHARGE DONALD LU EMAIL OF OCTOBER
31
B. BERLIN 1465
Classified By: A\DCM Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Summary. The German Federal Security Council
(Bundessicherheitsrat) is likely to reach a formal decision
to permit movement of the three German-origin helicopters to
Afghanistan in a meeting scheduled for November 5 (ref B).
The Chancellery, MFA, Economic Ministry and its export
control agency (BAFA) continue to hold that entry of the
Pumas into Afghanistan or other proscribed countries would
violate German export law, until or unless the government
approves Presidential Airways' (PA's) application to do so.
The Chancellery, however, reportedly supports a favorable
resolution of the matter because of U.S. military airlift
needs in Afghanistan. Chancellor Merkel herself has been
briefed on the case, a fact that demonstrates both the
seriousness with which the Germans are taking this matter,
and their extreme caution on Afghanistan-related issues.
Embassy is encouraging PA to provide written assurances to
the German government that the helicopters will not be
transferred to Afghanistan until formal approval of the
export license. End Summary.
2. (S) On October 30, A/DCM contacted Ambassador Viktor
Elbling (filling in for Ruediger von Fritsch, the DG for
Economic Affairs) in the Foreign Ministry to ascertain the
government's current views on the Puma contract. Elbling was
fully aware of PA's apparent intention to send the
helicopters to Afghanistan without permission from the German
government, and reaffirmed that doing so would clearly
violate German export control laws and subject perpetrators
to possible criminal penalties. We then asked about a story
that the Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation had heard,
to the effect that the Federal Security Council (Germany's
Deputies-level committee for security issues, including arms
sales) might approve PA's earlier application to operate the
Pumas in Afghanistan in a previously scheduled November 5
meeting. Without confirming or denying the story, Elbling
replied that we should check with the Chancellery on this,
and that he could say nothing else on the issue. A/DCM
further confirmed this information with another MFA official
in their Arms Control Division on October 31.
3. (S) On October 31, A/DCM spoke with an official at the
Chancellery who is responsible for arms sales. We emphasized
that we fully supported Germany's export control laws, but
would hope that the Council would support transfer of the
Pumas to Afghanistan, if at all possible, to support the U.S.
military's airlift needs. Our contact confirmed that the
Council would meet on November 5, and that it would deny PA's
application if they flew the helicopters (now in Baku; ref A)
to Afghanistan without German Government permission; on the
other hand, the Council would likely approve the transfer so
long as PA kept the helicopters in Baku for the time being.
The main reason for the apparent shift was that the German
government appreciated the serious need for the helicopters
in Afghanistan and wanted to be helpful to U.S. forces.
4. (S/NF) We asked our Chancellery interlocutor how likely
it was that the Council would approve PA's application. He
explained that he was "80 percent certain" because just that
morning (October 31),he had "briefed Chancellor Merkel and
recommended this action, and she seemed favorably disposed."
To improve the chances of a favorable outcome, the
Chancellery official asked for written assurances from PA
that it would not move the aircraft to Afghan before the
German Government decision on the matter (expected at the
November 5 Council meeting). ODC is sending a message to
this effect to PA today.
Timken Jr