SHIPMENT OF MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED

S E C R E T STATE 066678

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MASS ETTC TU IR SY
SUBJECT: SHIPMENT OF MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED
EQUIPMENT

Classified By: EUR/PRA Dir. Anita Friedt,
Reason 1.4 (b),(c),and (d).


1. (S) This is an immediate action request to Embassy
Ankara. Please see paragraph 3.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (S/NF) We have information that there was a shipment this
month of military communications-related Mercedes Benz
vehicles from Iran via Turkey that were destined for Syria.
The shipment will possibly be followed by a shipment of
electronic suites associated with these trucks. We want to
approach the Turkish Government and request them to be alert
for this potential ground shipment and to interdict it at its
border crossings. A similar shipment of probably electronic
warfare (EW) vehicles following the same route occurred in
December 2008 This shipment likely entered Turkey through
the Gurbulak Border Crossing and likely passed into Syria at
the Killis Border Crossing.

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ACTION REQUEST
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3. (S) Drawing from the points in paragraph 5, which may be
left as a non-paper, post is requested to approach
appropriate-level Turkish officials and request that they
investigate this activity, and if the cargo is found to be in
violation of UNSCR 1747 that the Government of Turkey (GOT)
use all available means to prevent the transshipment of these
electronic suites and detain it.

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OBJECTIVES
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4. (S) Post should seek to achieve the following:

-- Provide Turkish officials with information regarding
Iran's shipment of the military communications-related
Mercedes Benz vehicles in early June and its likely attempt
to ship electronic suites associated with these trucks to
Syria;

-- Inform the Government of Turkey (GOT) that in December
2008 there was a similar shipment of probably electronic
warfare (EW) vehicles from Iran through Turkey to Syria and
that the electronic suites will likely be shipped along the
same route;

-- Emphasize to the Turkish officials that UN Security
Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, paragraph 5, prohibits Iran
from transferring any arms or related materiel;

-- Urge the GOT to take action against this shipment pursuant
to UNSCR 1747, and in accordance with the GOT's laws and
authorities;

-- Advise the GOT that the EW vehicles that were shipped and
the electronic suites waiting to be shipped are controlled
under the Wassenaar Arrangement regime;

-- Thank the GOT for its willingness to be vigilant in
investigating suspect shipments from Iran, to interdict them
and take positive action with regard to other earlier
requests on other shipments. As a NATO ally, we try to
provide Turkey with as much information as possible on these
issues, which could help lead them to take action in
detaining shipments; and

-- Emphasize that, should we receive additional information
regarding this shipment, we will provide it as expeditiously
as possible.

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TALKING POINTS/NON-PAPER
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5. (S//REL TURKEY) Begin talking points/non-paper:

-- We have information that in early June, Iran transported
eighteen (18) military communications-related Mercedes Benz
vehicles to Syria via Turkey.

-- A similar shipment of probably electronic warfare (EW)
vehicles occurred in December 2008 when vehicles departed
from Iran and subsequently arrived at a military facility in
Syria. Information indicates that these vehicles were
shipped on tractor-trailers from Iran to Syria through Turkey.

-- We are sharing this information with you, and are
requesting your help and to prevent such transfers of
proliferation concern, and to ensure that Iran does not
transfer items proscribed by UN Security Council resolutions
(UNSCR) 1737, 1747, and 1803 through your territory.

-- This shipment likely entered Turkey through the Gurbulak
Border Crossing and likely passed into Syria at the Killis
Border Crossing.

-- We have additional information that the electronic suites
associated with these trucks remain in Iran, but are likely
to be shipped following the same route. These suites are
approximately 4 meters long, 2 meters wide and have an entry
door on one end.

-- We believe these items constitute arms or related materiel
and are covered by UNSCR 1747.

-- UNSCR 1747, paragraph 5, prohibits Iran from supplying,
selling or transferring from its territory any arms or
related materiel. It also requires all states to prohibit
the procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals,
or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not
such transfers originated in the territory of Iran.

-- In the spirit of this resolution, we request you be alert
for possible shipments of the electronic suites across your
borders and stop them from being transferred to Syria.

-- We also believe the EW vehicles that were shipped to Syria
in December 2008 are controlled under the Wassenaar
Arrangement (WA),Munitions List (ML) 11.

-- In addition, we believe the electronic suites waiting to
be shipped that are associated with the 18 military
communications-related Mercedes Benz vehicles which were
shipped this month are also controlled under WA, ML 11.

-- We deeply appreciate the Government of Turkey's continued
cooperation, support, and willingness to enact prompt and
thorough efforts to promote interdictions designed to prevent
the transfer of sensitive material by Iran.

END POINTS

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REPORTING REQUIREMENT
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6. (U) Post is requested to please report results of its
efforts as soon as possible.

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POINTS OF CONTACT
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7. (U) Washington points of contact for follow-up are Michael
Rolleri, ISN/CATR, and Matt Hardiman, EUR/PRA.
CLINTON