QUESTION RE NATURE OF M/V HANSA INDIA CARGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L VALLETTA 000496 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/PRA, MATT HARDIMAN DEPT ALSO FOR ISN/CPI, MARK FELIPE AND THOMAS ZARZECKI DEPT ALSO FOR T USUN FOR JOSHUA BLACK E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IR MT LY GM SUBJECT: QUESTION RE NATURE OF M/V HANSA INDIA CARGO REF: STATE 114769 Classified By: AMB DOUGLAS KMIEC, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) PolEcon chief delivered reftel talking points on November 10 to acting DEFMIN and NSC Director Vannessa Frazier, MFA Sanctions Committee legal advisor Dr. Sharon Scicluna and MFA Director for European Affairs Joseph Cole. All expressed understanding of the issue involved and appreciation for the information provided by the U.S. ¶2. (C) Follow-up conversations with Frazier and Scicluna on 11 and 13 November indicate that Malta is still conducting an independent review of the issue and of the materials provided by the U.S. As of 12 November, the Malta Police (who supervised the initial seizure and drafted the first report) have been appointed as the lead agency for preparation of the follow-on report, and will be assisted by technical experts from the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). None of the above interlocutors were willing to suggest a date on which the report would be completed, but none anticipated any potential problems in its preparation. ¶3. (SBU) Post will continue to follow the issue closely and report future developments septel. POC at post for this matter is PolEcon chief Tom Yeager, 356 2561 4167. KMIEC