Cablegate: France Supports Additional Measures On Irisl Cargo

VZCZCXRO1532
RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #1291 1911200
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 091200Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3673
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC

S E C R E T PARIS 001291

SIPDIS

FOR ISN, T, TREASURY, IO, INR AND NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PARM PINR PREL KNNP EUN FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTS ADDITIONAL MEASURES ON IRISL CARGO
INSPECTIONS

REF: SECSTATE 69339

Classified By: ECONOMIC MINISTER COUNSELOR SETH WINNICK FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D)

1. (S) Econoff delivered reftel demarche and non-paper July
7 to Martin Briens, Office Director for Disarmament and
Nuclear Nonproliferation at the MFA. Briens was highly
supportive of the U.S. approach, noting that France had been
behind the original listing of the two Iranian companies in
UNSCR 1803, and had supplied a good deal of information on
suspect shipments to third countries as well. The U.S.
non-paper was "useful" in that it complemented what France
already knew. Briens also noted that discussions were
underway within the EU to strengthen controls over these two
companies in the context of transposition into EU law of
UNSCR 1803. France would have preferred an outright ban on
these companies, but this was unacceptable to its EU
partners. Further details on the measures France is proposing
to reinforce UNSCR 1803 will be reported septel.

2. (S) France's draft common position would require mandatory
declarations by port authorities of the arrival or departure
of any Iran Air plane or IRISL vessel, and the contents of
their cargo. Member states would not be obliged to search
the cargo absent reasonable grounds as required by UNSCR
1803, but France also wanted to see a provision for random
inspection included. Briens said that of the major EU
shippers concerned, Denmark was highly supportive of the
approach, but Cyprus, Malta and to a lesser extent Greece
were not. It was important to reach out to all of the latter
three countries to sensitize them to the dangers involved.
Briens said he would circulate the non-paper to Customs,
Finance, and other concerned agencies within the GOF.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce

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