UPDATE - SWEDES WILL PROHIBIT TRANSFER OF

S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000778

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: ETRD ETTC MCAP PARM KOMC IR SW SP
SUBJECT: UPDATE - SWEDES WILL PROHIBIT TRANSFER OF
HELICOPTERS TO SPAIN

REF: A. STOCKHOLM 772

B. KOEHLER-PEARTREE TELCON 11/17/08

C. STOCKHOLM 744

D. STOCKHOLM 609

E. STATE 92567

F. 06 STOCKHOLM 243

Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary: Sweden's Inspectorate for Strategic Products
(ISP) has determined that three helicopters that were to be
shipped to Spain are, in fact, military equipment.
Therefore, ISP will not allow them to be exported until and
unless the USG approves. This information has been
communicated to the owner of the helicopters. End Summary.


2. (S) On November 19, Jan-Erik Lovgren, Deputy Director, the
Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP),called POL
Counselor to say that he had been informed that the three
Bell 212 helicopters that are subjects of reftels did, in
fact, have military content related to "countermeasures" and
"defensive wiring." Therefore, he continued, they are
considered military equipment under Sweden's Military
Equipment Ordinance and ISP would block their transfer until
and unless the owner, European Helicopter Services (EHS),
obtained all required authorizations from the U.S.
Government. Lovgren stated he would inform EHS owner Helena
Pariza of this development.


3. (S) Econoff subsequently followed up with Pariza, who
confirmed that Lovgren had been in contact and had informed
her that the helicopters are, in fact, classified as military
equipment and therefore require a license and permission from
the USG before they can be exported. She told Econoff that
she "wants to do this correctly" and had visited the DDTC
website the embassy provided her. She admitted that she had
planned to ship them by truck Thursday, November 20, but said
she would now wait until she has applied for and received a
re-export license. She has sent the website to her Swedish
attorneys, so that they can review the information and ensure
that all forms are completed properly. Pariza stated also
that she plans to decommission the helicopters, but since her
company owns a hangar in Spain, it is much cheaper to store
them there until they have been decommissioned. Econoff
asked what she planned to do once she had decommissioned the
helos, and she replied that she did not know at this point.
She continued to emphasize that she would not move the helos
until she had received the proper license from the USG.


4. (S) Comment: We note the apparent interest in the
helicopters by Iranian visitors to Sweden (reftels),and Ms.
Pariza's lack of clarity on what might happen to the
helicopter parts once they are decommissioned in Spain.
Absent any other explanation, then, we assume she would still
like to conclude a deal with Iran for the helicopter parts.
End Comment.
WOOD