NIAG 6004: DUTCH UPDATE ON TRITIUM GAS SHIPMENT

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000313 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR/PRA, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2028 TAGS: PARM PREL IR NL SUBJECT: NIAG 6004: DUTCH UPDATE ON TRITIUM GAS SHIPMENT REF: A. STATE 26650 ¶B. THE HAGUE 271 Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S) Summary: The GONL confirmed an attempted shipment of tritium gas to Iran by a Dutch firm in December 2007. According to MFA Senior Advisor for Nuclear Affairs and Nonproliferation Ceta Noland, the Dutch are continuing to investigate the incident and may pursue criminal charges against the Dutch company. She said the Dutch have reported the incident to the IAEA. Noland discussed these issues with polmiloff on April 2. End summary. ¶2. (S) Per reftels, Noland compared notes on the halted shipment of tritium gas at Schiphol International Airport in December 2007. She said a Dutch firm had attempted to make the shipment on behalf of its German parent company Campro Scientific. The Dutch firm claimed the tritium gas was intended -- in conjunction with leucine proteins -- to treat blood disease at an Iranian children's hospital. Noland said that such radioactive treatment is extremely experimental in Europe, and Dutch authorities greatly doubted that Iranian medical science had advanced to the point where such treatment could be used on children. Given the radioactive nature of the gas and end destination in Iran, the GONL insisted the firm apply for an export license, which the firm has yet to do. ¶3. (S) Noland said that while the shipment was halted, Dutch authorities did not seize the tritium gas. She said the Dutch suspect the tritium gas is still in the Netherlands, as returning it to Germany would require a special license to transport such a controlled item. Noland said the Dutch continue to investigate the incident, including the possibility of filing criminal charges against the Dutch firm. ¶4. (S) Noland noted that cooperation with German authorities has been excellent, and said that Campro Scientific had attempted to make a similar shipment a year earlier from Germany. She noted that both the German parent firm and Dutch subsidiary have Iranian leadership, and said that according to German authorities, the German director had been arrested, while an Iranian diplomat associated with the firm's activities had been expelled from Germany. ¶5. (S) Noland said the Dutch have reported the incident to the IAEA so that it will be included in the illicit trafficking database. She said the Dutch were interested in making a NSG presentation on the incident, but have been asked by Germany to postpone such a presentation due to the on-going investigations in both Germany and the Netherlands. Gallagher