Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN1264
2009-10-08 14:02:00
SECRET
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
(S) GERMANY TAKES ACTION ON SEIZURE OF IRANIAN
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 001264
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI FOR THOMAS ZARZECKI AND EDNA SIDLER
EUR FOR NANCY MCELDOWNEY, STUART JONES, AND PAMELA QUANRUD
NSC FOR JEFF HOVENIER
TREASURY FOR STUART LEVEY AND DANIEL GLASER
EUR/CE FOR ALEXANDER KARAGIANNIS, CHRIS HODGES AND PETER
SCHROEDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR UK MT LY EG GM
SUBJECT: (S) GERMANY TAKES ACTION ON SEIZURE OF IRANIAN
MUNITIONS DESTINED FOR SYRIA
REF: A. STATE 104749
B. BERLIN 1261
C. ZARZECKI-PETERSON E-MAIL OF 10/03/09
BERLIN 00001264 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: EMIN ROBERT POLLARD for
reasons 1.4 (a),(b),(c) and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 001264
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI FOR THOMAS ZARZECKI AND EDNA SIDLER
EUR FOR NANCY MCELDOWNEY, STUART JONES, AND PAMELA QUANRUD
NSC FOR JEFF HOVENIER
TREASURY FOR STUART LEVEY AND DANIEL GLASER
EUR/CE FOR ALEXANDER KARAGIANNIS, CHRIS HODGES AND PETER
SCHROEDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR UK MT LY EG GM
SUBJECT: (S) GERMANY TAKES ACTION ON SEIZURE OF IRANIAN
MUNITIONS DESTINED FOR SYRIA
REF: A. STATE 104749
B. BERLIN 1261
C. ZARZECKI-PETERSON E-MAIL OF 10/03/09
BERLIN 00001264 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: EMIN ROBERT POLLARD for
reasons 1.4 (a),(b),(c) and (d).
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 6.
2. (S//NF) SUMMARY: The German government is moving
aggressively to help thwart delivery of UNSCR-sanctioned
Iranian origin munitions to Syria that are currently aboard
the German-flagged vessel M/V HANSA INDIA. Following a
German demarche to Egypt, the munitions were prevented from
being off-loaded in Damietta, Egypt and are on their way to
Malta with an expected arrival at 2130 (local) today. German
MFA Director General Ruediger von Fritsch told EMIN that
Germany is instructing their mission in Valletta to join
AmEmbassy Valletta in a joint demarche to the Maltese
government to seize and detain the containers and to report
this UNSCR 1747 violation to the UN 1737 Iran Sanctions
Committee. Von Fritsch said MFA State Secretary Reinhard
Silberberg had already received the REF A non-paper, and
would brief Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the matter later
in the day. Thus far, German cooperation has been exemplary
and our interlocutors are placing heavy emphasis on
coordinating their actions with the USG. The Germans are
asking Washington about how we expect Malta to dispose of the
illegal cargo. END SUMMARY
GERMANY EAGER TO COOPERATE - ASKS FOR NEXT STEPS
-------------- ---
3. (S//NF) EconOff delivered ref A demarche to German MFA
Desk Officer, Mr. Ulrich Meier-Tesch, on October 8 at 0955
local time. Meier-Tesch said his ministry is deeply engaged
with the M/V HANSA INDIA case and that Foreign Minister
Steinmeier is involved in the decision making process. The
demarche delivery was just in time for a 1000 high level MFA
meeting on this case that included State Secretary Silberberg
and Director General von Fritsch. At 1020, von Fritsch
called EMIN responding to the demarche and indicated that
Germany had agreed to deliver a joint demarche in Malta at
the Ambassadorial level. Von Fritsch explained that since
the M/V HANSA INDIA ship master and owner, while fully
cooperative so far, do not/not have the authority to unload
the containers in question in Malta, the Maltese authorities
would need to direct them to do so. Von Fritsch requested a
USG response as soon as possible regarding how Malta should
dispose of the containers in question once they are unloaded.
4. (S//NF) In a separate phone call, Meier-Tesch told
EconOff that Germany is under the impression from the REF A
non-paper, that Malta would file any UNSCR violation with the
UN Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee and Germany
was to encourage them to do so. Meier-Tesch said his
ministry's UN office would have the final say as to how to
handle this matter, but that nothing would be decided until
tomorrow when the containers are inspected and the suspected
UNSCR violation can be verified.
BACKGROUND
--------------
BERLIN 00001264 002.2 OF 002
5. (S//NF) Mission Berlin received its first notice to
demarche Germany on October 3, 0430 local time in order to
acquire permission to board and inspect cargo on the
German-flagged M/V HANSA INDIA, which was transporting 7.62mm
small arms brass casings and bars from Iran to Latakia, Syria
(via transshipment from Egypt) in violation of UNSCR 1747.
Germany decided to allow the ship to enter port in Damietta,
Egypt and to demarche Cairo to ensure the eight specified
containers remained on the ship until its next port call in
Malta. On October 7, Mission Berlin received notice that the
M/V HANSA INDIA was on course to Malta and expected to arrive
at port at 2130 local time.
6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department guidance
on the German information request in paragraph 3 concerning
the disposition of the illicit cargo.
Murphy
SIPDIS
ISN/CPI FOR THOMAS ZARZECKI AND EDNA SIDLER
EUR FOR NANCY MCELDOWNEY, STUART JONES, AND PAMELA QUANRUD
NSC FOR JEFF HOVENIER
TREASURY FOR STUART LEVEY AND DANIEL GLASER
EUR/CE FOR ALEXANDER KARAGIANNIS, CHRIS HODGES AND PETER
SCHROEDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR UK MT LY EG GM
SUBJECT: (S) GERMANY TAKES ACTION ON SEIZURE OF IRANIAN
MUNITIONS DESTINED FOR SYRIA
REF: A. STATE 104749
B. BERLIN 1261
C. ZARZECKI-PETERSON E-MAIL OF 10/03/09
BERLIN 00001264 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: EMIN ROBERT POLLARD for
reasons 1.4 (a),(b),(c) and (d).
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 6.
2. (S//NF) SUMMARY: The German government is moving
aggressively to help thwart delivery of UNSCR-sanctioned
Iranian origin munitions to Syria that are currently aboard
the German-flagged vessel M/V HANSA INDIA. Following a
German demarche to Egypt, the munitions were prevented from
being off-loaded in Damietta, Egypt and are on their way to
Malta with an expected arrival at 2130 (local) today. German
MFA Director General Ruediger von Fritsch told EMIN that
Germany is instructing their mission in Valletta to join
AmEmbassy Valletta in a joint demarche to the Maltese
government to seize and detain the containers and to report
this UNSCR 1747 violation to the UN 1737 Iran Sanctions
Committee. Von Fritsch said MFA State Secretary Reinhard
Silberberg had already received the REF A non-paper, and
would brief Foreign Minister Steinmeier on the matter later
in the day. Thus far, German cooperation has been exemplary
and our interlocutors are placing heavy emphasis on
coordinating their actions with the USG. The Germans are
asking Washington about how we expect Malta to dispose of the
illegal cargo. END SUMMARY
GERMANY EAGER TO COOPERATE - ASKS FOR NEXT STEPS
-------------- ---
3. (S//NF) EconOff delivered ref A demarche to German MFA
Desk Officer, Mr. Ulrich Meier-Tesch, on October 8 at 0955
local time. Meier-Tesch said his ministry is deeply engaged
with the M/V HANSA INDIA case and that Foreign Minister
Steinmeier is involved in the decision making process. The
demarche delivery was just in time for a 1000 high level MFA
meeting on this case that included State Secretary Silberberg
and Director General von Fritsch. At 1020, von Fritsch
called EMIN responding to the demarche and indicated that
Germany had agreed to deliver a joint demarche in Malta at
the Ambassadorial level. Von Fritsch explained that since
the M/V HANSA INDIA ship master and owner, while fully
cooperative so far, do not/not have the authority to unload
the containers in question in Malta, the Maltese authorities
would need to direct them to do so. Von Fritsch requested a
USG response as soon as possible regarding how Malta should
dispose of the containers in question once they are unloaded.
4. (S//NF) In a separate phone call, Meier-Tesch told
EconOff that Germany is under the impression from the REF A
non-paper, that Malta would file any UNSCR violation with the
UN Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee and Germany
was to encourage them to do so. Meier-Tesch said his
ministry's UN office would have the final say as to how to
handle this matter, but that nothing would be decided until
tomorrow when the containers are inspected and the suspected
UNSCR violation can be verified.
BACKGROUND
--------------
BERLIN 00001264 002.2 OF 002
5. (S//NF) Mission Berlin received its first notice to
demarche Germany on October 3, 0430 local time in order to
acquire permission to board and inspect cargo on the
German-flagged M/V HANSA INDIA, which was transporting 7.62mm
small arms brass casings and bars from Iran to Latakia, Syria
(via transshipment from Egypt) in violation of UNSCR 1747.
Germany decided to allow the ship to enter port in Damietta,
Egypt and to demarche Cairo to ensure the eight specified
containers remained on the ship until its next port call in
Malta. On October 7, Mission Berlin received notice that the
M/V HANSA INDIA was on course to Malta and expected to arrive
at port at 2130 local time.
6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department guidance
on the German information request in paragraph 3 concerning
the disposition of the illicit cargo.
Murphy