Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08STATE34278 | 2008-04-02 21:33:00 | SECRET | Secretary of State |
O 022133Z APR 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BISHKEK IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY TASHKENT IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY ASTANA IMMEDIATE |
S E C R E T STATE 034278 |
1. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan) Posts are instructed to immediately approach appropriate host government officials to alert them to a rescheduling of this flight from March 11 (Ref A) to April 11 and request that they continue to make approval of over flight requests contingent on full inspection of the aircraft and its cargo. Posts should also reiterate the request that host government officials detain, in accordance with national law and consistent with international law, any suspicious cargo for further investigation to ensure it is not being transferred in violation of UNSCR 1718 or could otherwise contribute to a program of proliferation concern in Syria. Posts should thank host government officials for their cooperation and diligence regarding our earlier requests (Refs A and B). Posts should provide non-paper in para 6 and draw on background as necessary. 2. (S/Rel Turkey) Post should thank GOT officials for conditioning a March 2008 Air Koryo flight clearance request to transit Turkish territory upon the landing/inspection of the aircraft (Ref C). Post should congratulate Turkey,s actions and encourage them to stay the course regarding any future Air Koryo overflight requests. 3. (S/Rel Kazakhstan) Post should thank Kazakhstan officials for denying a February 2008 overflight request for clearance of the DPRK to Syria flight to transit Kazakhstani territory (Ref D). Post should congratulate Kazakhstan,s actions and encourage them to stay the course regarding any future Air Koryo overflight requests. End Summary and Action Request. -------------------------- OBJECTIVES -------------------------- 4. (S) Posts are requested to pursue the following objectives: -- Approach host government officials and alert them to a schedule change to an upcoming Air Koryo charter flight from March 11 to April 11. -- Remind host government that we continue to believe that this flight may be carrying missile-related cargo in violation of UNSCR 1718. -- Remind host government that UNSCR 1718, in order to ensure compliance with the measures imposed in that resolution, calls upon Member States to take, in accordance with their national authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, cooperative action, including through inspection of cargo to and from the DPRK, as necessary to prevent the transfer to or procurement from North Korea of certain military goods, WMD components or delivery systems. -- Remind host government that Syria and North Korea have a history of cooperating with each other on missile-related projects, and have transferred missile-related goods to one another before. -- Indicate that this is not a regularly scheduled flight and that future overflight requests of this nature should be carefully considered. -- Reiterate our request that host government provide over-flight clearance contingent on full inspection of the aircraft and its cargo. -- Reiterate our request that host government grant any requested fuel stop by this flight and prepare to inspect the cargo immediately upon landing. -- Request host government to detain any suspicious cargo, in accordance with national law and consistent with international law, for further investigation to ensure it is not being transferred in violation of UNSCR 1718 or could otherwise contribute to a program of proliferation concern in Syria. -- Request that host government officials report back with any information that they find regarding this flight. -- Thank host government for its cooperation. -------------------------- BACKGROUND -------------------------- 5. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan) Since February Washington has been tracking an Air Koryo charter flight from Pyongyang, North Korea to Damascus, Syria. Washington is concerned that this flight may be intended to carry cargo in violation of UNSCR 1718. In February and March, this flight was rescheduled and Washington believes that this is due to actions taken as a result of previous demarches on this subject. Washington believes that continued diplomatic efforts will further deter this flight. -------------------------- NON-PAPER -------------------------- 6. (S/Rel China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan) -- We recently brought to your attention a North Korean-origin flight of serious proliferation concern that may request over flight of your territory as it transits to and from Syria. This flight may be carrying material in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1718. -- We would like to provide you with updated information regarding this flight. -- North Korea,s Civil Aviation Authority, Air Koryo, rescheduled this flight again and it is now scheduled to depart Pyongyang, North Korea, for Damascus, Syria, with a stop in Tehran, Iran, on April 11 2008. Flight JS-621 which would use a North Korean registered Il-62 aircraft, has been rescheduled to depart Pyongyang (ZKKK) on 0001Z on April 11 and arrive at Tehran (OIII) at 0940Z on April 11. The flight is scheduled to depart Tehran at 1140Z on 11 April and arrive at Damascus (OSDI) at 1420Z. -- The return flight, JS-622, was rescheduled to depart Damascus at 0900Z 14 April and to arrive in Tehran at 1130Z. The flight is scheduled to depart Tehran at 1330Z on 14 April and arrive at Pyongyang at 2220Z. -- We request that you provide over flight clearance contingent only upon full inspection of the aircraft and cargo and grant any requested fueling stop by this aircraft and prepare to inspect the cargo immediately upon its landing. End non-paper. -------------------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------------------- 7. (U) Washington point of contact for follow-up information is Matthew Zartman, (202) 647-7588, zartmanml@state.sgov.gov. Please slug all responses for ISN, T, EAP, and NEA. Washington appreciates Post,s assistance. RICE NNNN End Cable Text |