2007-11-21 16:47:00
07BERN1101
Embassy Bern
CONFIDENTIAL
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSW #1101 3251647
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211647Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4702
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 001101
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/MTR, T AND EUR/AGS/SAINT-ANDRE, TRICK, MOON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2012
TAGS: PARM, MTCRE, PREL, ETTC, SZ
SUBJECT: SWITZERLAND DENIES EXPORTS OF NON-CONTROLLED GOODS BASED ON USG INFORMATION — REQUEST USG COOPERATION IN AVOIDING UNDERCUTTING OF DENIAL BY U.S. FIRM
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Stanley A. Otto for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d)
1. (C) On November 21, Embassy Pol/Econ Counselor was called to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to meet with the Head of the Export Control and Sanctions
Division Othmar Wyss regarding a GOS export denial based on USG information presented on August 14, 2007. SECO Chief of Dual-Use Export Controls Juergen Boehler participated in
the meeting, along with Export control Division Deputy Rebekka Wullimann.
2. (C) Wyss began by noting that in the spirit of Swiss-U.S. non-proliferation partnership the GOS would like to apprise the USG of on-going efforts to counter procurement attempts by entities associated with the Pakistani missile program. Wyss explained that in August 2007, Switzerland received information through the U.S. Embassy in Bern indicating that Pakistan’s Mechanical Engineering Workshop (Plot 174, I-10/3, Industrial Area, Islamabad, tel. 92 (51) 431-9223) was acting as a cover for the National Development Complex,
which oversees the development and production of the Shaheen series of ballistic missiles.
3. (C) According to Wyss, based on this information, Switzerland is denying under the catch-all clause a recent request for an export license for coating and dispensing equipment to the aforementioned Mechanical Engineering Workshop.
4. (C) Wyss added that in the process of evaluating this request, the GOS has become aware that a U.S. company, Asymtek, based in Carlsbad, California, may be attempting to deliver coating and dispensing equipment to the Mechanical Engineering Workshop via Singapore.
5. (C) The GOS therefore requests that the USG take necessary steps to prevent an inadvertent undercutting of the catch-all denial issued by the Swiss Government on November 21 in the framework of the MTCR.
ROSEN