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Tue, Aug 30, 2011 | WikiLeaks

A soldier with the 25th Infantry Division prepares to launch a Raven unmanned aerial vehicle in Paktika province, Iraq. (SGT. 1ST CLASS MICHAEL GUILLORY / ARMY)

WikiLeaks: Syria Wanted to Buy UAV Components from German Firm

December 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requested the US embassy in Berlin to inform the government of Germany about a possible deal between German firm Graupner GmbH and Syrian firm Business Lab to sell several items to the Syrian firm which could be diverted to Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), responsible for Syrian WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs, for use in Syria’s unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) program.

Clinton asked the German government to act on this information and to ensure that Graupner would not act as a supplier to Syrian entities of proliferation concern, especially in preventing Syria to obtain Western technology for possible military development.

Source: WikiLeaks

Reference	Created	Classification	Origin
09STATE129599	2009-12-18 21:11	SECRET	Secretary of State

 

VZCZCXYZ0037
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9599 3522113
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P R 182111Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 5417
INFO MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME COLLECTIVE
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 8389

S E C R E T STATE 129599

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2034
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MNUC ETTC KSCA GE SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA’S BUSINESS LAB SEEKING UAV COMPONENTS FROM
GERMAN FIRM (S)

Classified By: ISN/MTR ACTING DIRECTOR RALPH PALMIERO FOR REASON
1.4 (C).

¶1. (U) This is an action request. Embassy Berlin, please see
paragraph 3.

¶2. (S) Background and Objective: We want to advise German
officials of information indicating that as of November 2009,
the Syrian entity Business Lab was seeking a variety of items,
including small engines, servo actuators, propellers, and
radio equipment from the German firm Graupner GmbH. We are
concerned that any goods Graupner supplies to Business Lab may
be diverted to Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center
(SSRC), the entity responsible for Syrian WMD and ballistic
missile programs, and that the items are being sought for use
in Syria’s unmanned aerial vehicle program. We want to share
this information with German officials and encourage them to
investigate this information and take measures to ensure that
Graupner is not acting as a supplier to Syrian entities of
proliferation concern.

¶3. Action Request: Request Embassy Berlin approach
appropriate host government officials to deliver talking
points/non-paper in paragraph 4 below and report response.
Talking points also may be provided as a non-paper.

¶4. (S) Begin talking points/non-paper:

(SECRET//REL GERMANY)

— We would like to alert you to information of proliferation
concern and request your assistance in investigating this
activity.

— The U.S. has information indicating that as of November
2009, the Syrian firm Business Lab was working to procure a
range of items usable in small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
from the German firm Graupner GmbH.

— We understand that Business Lab had expressed interest in
purchasing quantities of small engines, servo actuators,
propellers, and radio transmitting and receiving equipment,
and that Graupner may have provided price quotations for these
items to Business Lab.

— We are concerned that this equipment may be diverted to
Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), which
is the organization responsible for Syria’s WMD and ballistic
missile programs and has been the subject of numerous
discussions at Missile Technology Control Regime Information
Exchanges.

— We are providing this information to you to support your
export control efforts and hope you will use all available
measures to ensure that Graupner is not acting – even
inadvertently – as a source of supply for entities of
proliferation concern in Syria.

— We look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation on
nonproliferation issues and would appreciate hearing of any
actions you take in response to this information at the
earliest possible time.

¶5. (U) Washington POC is ISN/MTR John Paul Herrmann (Phone:
202-647-1430). Please slug any reporting on this issue for
ISN/MTR, NEA/ELA, EUR/CE, and EUR/PRA.

¶6. (U) A word version of this document will be posted at
www.state.sgov.gov/demarche.

CLINTON

Source: WikiLeaks

Reference	Created	Classification	Origin
09BERLIN1611	2009-12-22 11:47	SECRET	Embassy Berlin

 

VZCZCXYZ0041
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #1611 3561147
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 221147Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6114
INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0215

S E C R E T BERLIN 001611

SIPDIS
STATE ISN/MTR FOR HERRMANN, NEA/ELA EUR/CA EUR/PRA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2034
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL MUNC ETTC KSCA SY GE
SUBJECT: (S) GERMANY WILL REVIEW CASE OF SYRIAN ATTEMPTS TO
PURCHASE UAV COMPONENTS

REF: STATE 129599

Classified By: Acting EMIN Don L. Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) (c) and (d)

(S) German MFA MTCR desk officer Nancy Reck told Econoff
that she was previously not aware of any pending export
license application the Syrian firm Business Lab, but would
investigate the case detailed in reftel and sensitize the
export control apparatus of the Germany government to
Business Lab’s activities. She stated that the GOG will
notify the Embassy of any substantive results of their
investigation. Post will report any developments septel.

DELAWIE