Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN192
2008-02-15 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:  

ICAO/PSI - GERMAN TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY POSITION

Tags:  AORC EAIR ICAO KNNP OTRA KTIA PARM GM 
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VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #0192 0461439
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151439Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0456
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0699
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 8852
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9400
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL PRIORITY 0054
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0582
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000192 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, ISN, L, EEB, EUR
MONTREAL FOR USICAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: AORC EAIR ICAO KNNP OTRA KTIA PARM GM
SUBJECT: ICAO/PSI - GERMAN TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY POSITION
SOFTENS ON INCORPORATING TRANSPORT OFFENSES IN MONTREAL
CONVENTION AMENDMENT

REF: A. STATE 13631


B. 07 BERLIN 2202

Classified By: EMIN Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000192

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, ISN, L, EEB, EUR
MONTREAL FOR USICAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: AORC EAIR ICAO KNNP OTRA KTIA PARM GM
SUBJECT: ICAO/PSI - GERMAN TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY POSITION
SOFTENS ON INCORPORATING TRANSPORT OFFENSES IN MONTREAL
CONVENTION AMENDMENT

REF: A. STATE 13631


B. 07 BERLIN 2202

Classified By: EMIN Robert A. Pollard for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) EconOff delivered ref A demarche February 12 to MFA
Nuclear Arms Control and Nonproliferation Division Desk
Officer (and PSI action officer) Thomas Muetzelburg.
Muetzelburg said there had been "positive developments" in
the position of the German Transportation Ministry. As
reported ref B, the Transportation Ministry had earlier
expressed skepticism about including WMD-related offenses in
amendments to the Montreal Convention, primarily because
ministry officials did not see much practical effect to the
measures. Muetzelburg said the recent PSI Operation Experts
Group meeting in London had been helpful in this regard.


2. (C) In a follow-up discussion February 15, Muetzelburg
said he was optimistic about prospects for arriving at a
common position that is "more open" to the Australian
proposal. Muetzelburg indicated the Transportation Ministry
is reluctant to endorse provisions including dual-use goods
because of the risk that certain states might be motivated
for economic reasons to use the measure as a pretext to
restrict trade. Muetzelburg noted that MFA and
Transportation Ministry officials had been in direct
discussions on the text with Australian officials.
Muetzelburg reiterated the MFA's "strong support" for the
measure, emphasizing the MFA's position that the German
Government is "politically bound" by UNSCR 1540 and the
Proliferation Security Initiative not to block the proposal.


3. (C) Muetzelburg said the MFA will continue to lobby the
Transportation Ministry on including dual-use goods. He
advised the Embassy to refrain from directly engaging the
Transportation Ministry until after the February 19-21 ICAO
Special Legal Subcommittee meeting. He expressed confidence
that the MFA would be able to bring the Transportation
Ministry around.
TIMKEN JR