Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE113762
2009-11-04 14:51:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

(S) ALERTING CZECH REPUBLIC TO IRANIAN PROCUREMENT OF MACHINE TOOLS VIA TURKISH INTERMEDIARY

Tags:  PARM MTCRE PREL IR TU CZ 
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VZCZCXYZ0028
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3762 3081455
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 041451Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 1245
INFO MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 3390
S E C R E T STATE 113762 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2034
TAGS: PARM, MTCRE, PREL, IR, TU, CZ
SUBJECT: (S) ALERTING CZECH REPUBLIC TO IRANIAN
PROCUREMENT OF MACHINE TOOLS VIA TURKISH INTERMEDIARY

Classified By: ISN/MTR ACTING DIRECTOR RALPH PALMIERO;
REASONS 1.4 (B),(C) AND (D).

S E C R E T STATE 113762



SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2034

TAGS: PARM, MTCRE, PREL, IR, TU, CZ

SUBJECT: (S) ALERTING CZECH REPUBLIC TO IRANIAN

PROCUREMENT OF MACHINE TOOLS VIA TURKISH INTERMEDIARY



Classified By: ISN/MTR ACTING DIRECTOR RALPH PALMIERO;

REASONS 1.4 (B),(C) AND (D).



1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Prague, please

see paragraph 4.



2. (S) Background/Purpose/Objective: We want to alert Czech

Republic officials to a possible effort by the Turkish firm

Ak Makina to circumvent the Czech Republic's export control

laws. Ak Makina has previously worked to procure machine

tools on behalf of entities affiliated with Iran's liquid

propellant ballistic missile developer and we are concerned

that any export of machine tools to Ak Makina poses potential

missile proliferation risks.



3. (S) Specifically, the United States has information that

in September 2009, Ak Makina was working to procure

a five-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine

tool manufactured by the Czech Republic-based firm Kovosit

MAS and controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement and the

Nuclear Suppliers Group. Our information indicates that Ak

Makina may be trying to conceal from Kovosit MAS that the

end-user for this equipment is Iran's Kara Gostar Engineering

Company. In light of Ak Makina's previous cooperation with

ballistic missile-related entities in Iran, we want to ask

Czech Republic authorities to investigate this activity and

urge them to use all available measures to prevent Ak Makina

from evading the Czech Republic's export controls to supply

machine tools to Iran.



4. (S) Action Request: Request Embassy Prague approach

appropriate host government authorities to deliver talking

points/non-paper in paragraph 5 below and report response.

Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper.



5. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:



(SECRET/REL CZECH REPUBLIC)



-- We would like to raise with you an issue of proliferation

concern and request your government's assistance in

investigating this activity.



--The United States has information that in September 2009,

the Turkish company Ak Makina was working to procure a

computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool

manufactured by the Czech Republic-based firm Kovosit MAS.



-- Ak Makina has previously worked to procure machine tools

on behalf of entities affiliated with Iran's liquid

propellant ballistic missile developer Shahid Hemmat

Industrial Group (SHIG),and we are concerned that any export

of machine tools to Ak Makina poses potential missile

proliferation risks.



-- We understand that the machine sought by Ak Makina from

Kovosit MAS is likely a five-axis CNC milling machine

controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Nuclear

Suppliers Group.



-- Our information indicates that Ak Makina may be trying to

conceal from Kovosit MAS that the end-user for this equipment

is Iran's Kara Gostar Engineering Company.



-- We hope you will use this information to investigate this

activity and take all available measures to prevent Ak Makina

from evading the Czech Republic's export controls to supply

machine tools to Iran.



-- We have also brought this information to the attention of

Turkish authorities.



-- We look forward to continued cooperation on export control

and nonproliferation issues and to hearing of any actions you

take in response to this information at the earliest possible

time.



End talking points/non-paper



6. (U) Washington POC is ISN/MTR James Mayes (Phone:

202-647-3185). Please slug any reporting on this issue for

ISN/MTR.



7. (U) A word version file of this document will be posted

at www.state.sgov.gov/demarche.

CLINTON

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