Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM414
2009-07-09 13:49:00
SECRET
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
UPDATE ON SYRIAN EXPORT CONTROL CASE
how-toVZCZCXRO1256 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL DE RUEHSM #0414 1901349 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 091349Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4484 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000414
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/MTR (JPHERRMANN, EUR/PRA, ANDEUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE SY SW
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SYRIAN EXPORT CONTROL CASE
REF: A. STOCKHOLM 283
B. STATE 41047
Classified By: ACDA Laura Kirkconnell for reasons 1.4 (B),(D),and (H)
.
S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000414
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/MTR (JPHERRMANN, EUR/PRA, ANDEUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE SY SW
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SYRIAN EXPORT CONTROL CASE
REF: A. STOCKHOLM 283
B. STATE 41047
Classified By: ACDA Laura Kirkconnell for reasons 1.4 (B),(D),and (H)
.
1. (S) Principal Administrative Officer Magnus Danielsson,
Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products (ISP),and Deputy
Director Ulf Lindell, Division for Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation at the Swedish MFA, told post on July 8
that ISP and the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) had
concluded their investigation of Abene Machine AB. Abene
Machine confirmed that it had exported milling machines to
the Syrian firm Handasieh, but maintained that the machines
in question, two-axis and manually operated machines, "were
not controlled by any export regime." Abene Machine also
reported that it had been approached by Handasieh to provide
spare parts for these machines, but had not exported any
items yet. The company also confirmed that a Syrian
delegation from Handasieh visited Abene Machine in 2009 for
education and training on the previously exported milling
machines.
2. (S) Danielsson stated that ISP has concluded that the
Syrian training on the milling machines in question was not
in violation of export control regulations. He also told us
that ISP did not find it "likely" that the export of spare
parts to the previously delivered milling machines, which ISP
considers uncontrolled and not sensitive, would be subject to
export control. Danielsson and Lindell both emphasized that
they had described the preconditions for "catch all" controls
and pointed out Abene Machine's responsibility to guarantee
the legitimate use of these milling machines and that none of
the requested spare parts was covered by export control
regulation. Post will report any additional information
septel.
3. (S) Comment: Emboffs raised ref (a) points on Handasieh's
role as a cover for Syria's Scientific Studies and Research
Center. The Swedes elected not to comment on this point,
however.
KIRKCONNELL
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/MTR (JPHERRMANN, EUR/PRA, ANDEUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MTCRE SY SW
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SYRIAN EXPORT CONTROL CASE
REF: A. STOCKHOLM 283
B. STATE 41047
Classified By: ACDA Laura Kirkconnell for reasons 1.4 (B),(D),and (H)
.
1. (S) Principal Administrative Officer Magnus Danielsson,
Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products (ISP),and Deputy
Director Ulf Lindell, Division for Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation at the Swedish MFA, told post on July 8
that ISP and the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) had
concluded their investigation of Abene Machine AB. Abene
Machine confirmed that it had exported milling machines to
the Syrian firm Handasieh, but maintained that the machines
in question, two-axis and manually operated machines, "were
not controlled by any export regime." Abene Machine also
reported that it had been approached by Handasieh to provide
spare parts for these machines, but had not exported any
items yet. The company also confirmed that a Syrian
delegation from Handasieh visited Abene Machine in 2009 for
education and training on the previously exported milling
machines.
2. (S) Danielsson stated that ISP has concluded that the
Syrian training on the milling machines in question was not
in violation of export control regulations. He also told us
that ISP did not find it "likely" that the export of spare
parts to the previously delivered milling machines, which ISP
considers uncontrolled and not sensitive, would be subject to
export control. Danielsson and Lindell both emphasized that
they had described the preconditions for "catch all" controls
and pointed out Abene Machine's responsibility to guarantee
the legitimate use of these milling machines and that none of
the requested spare parts was covered by export control
regulation. Post will report any additional information
septel.
3. (S) Comment: Emboffs raised ref (a) points on Handasieh's
role as a cover for Syria's Scientific Studies and Research
Center. The Swedes elected not to comment on this point,
however.
KIRKCONNELL