Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VALLETTA273
2008-07-08 14:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Valletta
Cable title:  

MALTA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IRISL SHIPMENTS

Tags:  KTFN PTER ETTC UNSC MT PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1923
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVT #0273 1901409
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081409Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY VALLETTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1644
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L VALLETTA 000273 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: KTFN PTER ETTC UNSC MT PREL
SUBJECT: MALTA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IRISL SHIPMENTS
THROUGH FREEPORT

REF: STATE 60339

Classified By: DCM Jason Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L VALLETTA 000273

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018
TAGS: KTFN PTER ETTC UNSC MT PREL
SUBJECT: MALTA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IRISL SHIPMENTS
THROUGH FREEPORT

REF: STATE 60339

Classified By: DCM Jason Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On July 2 Ambassador and DCM met with Minister of
Finance Tonio Fenech and his chief of staff Alan Caruana to
convey the IRISL-related points contained reftel. Ambassador
emphasized that all UN member states had a responsibility
under UNSCR 1803 to exercise vigilance over IRISL cargoes
transported through their jurisdiction, and to inspect IRISL
cargoes whenever there was grounds to believe that the vessel
might be transporting prohibited items under UNSCR 1803 or
UNSCRs 1737 or 1747. Given the extensive use that IRISL made
of Malta's Freeport, it was incumbent upon Malta to be
exceedingly vigilant.


2. (C) Minister Fenech reviewed reftel information
(releasable Malta) carefully, and assured the Ambassador that
he would direct the head of Malta Customs and other officials
at the Freeport to be vigilant with regard to IRISL vessels.
He reiterated what other Maltese officials have told us: that
they would welcome, and act quickly, upon any information the
U.S. might be able to provide regarding IRISL shipment
transiting Malta.

Comment
--------------


3. (C) With U.S. assistance and training, Malta Customs has
developed in recent years into one of the top Customs
operations in Europe. Their vigilance, using U.S.-provided
equipment, resulted in a 2006 "bust" of an operation to ship
gyroscopes used in missile production to Iran, for which a
suspect was recently indicted in the U.K.
BORDONARO