The United States had threatened Sri Lanka in 2009 with costly sanctions if weapons deals were carried out with both Iran and North Korea during the final stage of the war, a secret US cable revealed.Oslo newspaper Aftenposten, which continues to churn out stories related to the content of more than 250,000 diplomatic cables that the US had intended to keep secret, stated that “any arms purchase contracts entered into by Sri Lankan entities with North Korea or Iran, if implemented, could trigger sanctions against the entities involved under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).”
The Cable dated 08/05/2009 also stated that “Recent intelligence reports indicate that a Sri Lankan company responsible for the acquisition of equipment and services for the Sri Lankan military is negotiating the purchase of RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs) from North Korea´s primary weapons trading firm.”
Any purchases would have been in violation of UN resolutions against trade with either country, it said.
Sri Lankan officials denied they were in the process of illegal weapon purchases, but the US ambassador in Colombo wasn’t convinced. There was no comment on any deals with North Korea.
08.05.2009: SRI LANKA NEGOTIATING TO PROCURE LETHAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
E C R E T STATE 046946
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: ETTC, KN, KNNP, MARR, MCAP, MOPS, PARM, PINR, PREL
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA NEGOTIATING TO PROCURE LETHAL MILITARY
EQUIPMENT FROM NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
REF: 2006 STATE 141140
Classified By: Michael Owen, Director SCA/INS per E.O. 12958 for
reasons 1.4 (B), (D)
1. (U) This message contains an action request, please see
paragraph 6.
-------
Summary
-------
2. (S/NF) The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is negotiating
the procurement of Lethal Military Equipment (LME) from North
Korea and Iran. Recent intelligence reports indicate that a
Sri Lankan company responsible for the acquisition of
equipment and services for the Sri Lankan military is
negotiating the purchase of RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade
Launchers (RPGs) and Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs) from
North Korea´s primary weapons trading firm. Some of these
proposed arms imports appear to violate UNSCR 1718. We have
also received information that Iran´s Ministry of Defense
Logistics Export Center (MODLEX) has recently provided a
multimillion-dollar quote to the Sri Lankan Navy for the
installation of naval equipment. Moreover, an Iranian
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Force element located in
Sri Lanka provided details to an Iranian shipping company for
the sale of weapons to the Sri Lanka Army. Post is requested
to deliver the talking points in paragraph 6 and report any
GOSL reactions. End Summary.
----------
Background
----------
3. (S/NF) This is not the first time Sri Lanka has attempted
to purchase LME from countries under UN Security Council
sanctions. In August 2006, the USG demarched the GOSL
regarding its interest in acquiring pyrotechnic and armament
spare parts for training aircraft, as well as hundreds of
weapons from Iran (Ref A).
4. (S/NF) As part of our ongoing dialogue on
nonproliferation, we would like once again to express our
concern over Sri Lanka´s potential procurement of lethal
military equipment from Iran and North Korea. We also want
to remind the GOSL of possible sanctions under the Iran,
North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). The
INKSNA requires regular reports to Congress identifying
individuals and entities who have transferred to or acquired
from Iran, North Korea, or Syria certain items related to
weapons of mass destruction, ballistic or cruise missiles or
advanced conventional weapons.
-------------------------
Objectives/Action Request
-------------------------
5. (S//REL SRI LANKA) Post is requested to draw upon the
talking points in paragraph 6 with appropriate host
government officials. Post should pursue the following
objectives:
-- Remind the GOSL that any arms purchase contracts entered
into by Sri Lankan entities with North Korea or Iran, if
implemented, could trigger sanctions against the entities
involved under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria
Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).
-- Recall that paragraph 8(b) of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1718 requires member states to prohibit
the procurement of certain military-related items, including
LME such as combat aircraft, battle tanks, large caliber
artillery systems, or missile systems, or related materiel
including spare parts, and that any import of such items by
Sri Lanka would constitute a violation of UNSCR 1718. In
addition, paragraph 8(c) of UNSCR 1718 requires UN Member
States to prevent transfer from North Korea of any technical
training, advice, services or assistance related to these
items. The full list of items prohibited by UNSCR 1718 can
be found on the UN´s web site
(www.un.org/sc/committees/1718/xport list.shtml). Items on
these lists (identified in Security Council documents
S/2006/814, S/2006/815, and S/2006/853) are also prohibited
for transfer regardless of their intended use.
-- Emphasize our concern that Lanka Logistics and
Technologies Ltd may attempt to circumvent export controls on
transfers with North Korea.
-- Request the GOSL to investigate Lanka Logistics and
Technologies Ltd and provide the United States with the
results of its investigation as soon as possible.
-- Request the GOSL to provide information on whether its
Navy is negotiating with MODLEX $11.4 million for rockets and
rocket launchers that can be installed on naval equipment.
-- Request the GOSL to provide clarification on negotiations
with Iran on procurement of weapons and defense equipment for
the Sri Lankan Army in the amount of $40 million.
-- Note that under 1747, Iran is prohibited from exporting
arms and states are to prohibit the procurement of such items
from Iran by their nationals.
-- Urge GOSL authorities to stop any military negotiations
with North Korea or Iran involving LME or sensitive
technology.
--------------
Talking Points
--------------
6. (SECRET//REL SIR LANKA) Note that the first four bullets
in the Talking Points are derived from intelligence and must
be used verbatim. These points are bracketed and flagged as
"VERBATIM POINTS."
Begin Talking Points.
(BEGIN VERBATIM POINTS:
-- We have information that Lanka Logistics and Technologies
Ltd has been negotiating the purchase of RPG-7 Rocket
Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and Multiple Rocket
Launchers (MRLs) from the Korea Mining Development Company
(KOMID), North Korea´s primary weapons trading firm.
-- Our information indicates that this sale has not been
completed.
-- We also have information that Iran´s Ministry of Defense
Logistics Export Center (MODLEX), in December 2007, provided
the Sri Lankan Navy a quote of $11.4 million for rockets and
rocket launchers that could be installed on Sri Lankan naval
equipment. The offer did not include the cost of installation
and training, which could be provided at an additional cost.
-- We also understand that an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps Qods Force element located in Sri Lanka, in
February 2008, provided details to an Iranian shipping
company for the procurement of weapons to the Sri Lanka Army.
The total cost of the weapons and defense equipment totaled
approximately $40 million. END VERBATIM POINTS.)
-- Lanka Logistics and Technologies Ltd., according to your
own press, handles the acquisition of equipment and services
for the Sri Lankan military.
-- Any arms purchase contracts with North Korea or Iran, if
implemented, could trigger sanctions against the entities
involved under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria
Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA).
-- Under INKSNA, the United States is required to report to
Congress persons and companies who have transferred to or
acquired from North Korea, Iran, or Syria goods, services or
technology controlled by multilateral nonproliferation export
control regimes, specifically the Missile Technology Control
Regime, the Australia Group, the Chemical Weapons Convention,
the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
-- MRLS, RPGs, and other weapons and munitions are controlled
under the Wassenaar Arrangement and are therefore reportable
under the INKSNA.
-- Given North Korea,s continued destabilizing activities,
and the international reaction to those activities, now is
not the time for business as usual with North Korea.
-- We ask that you halt the purchase of all military
equipment from Iran. Paragraph 5 of UNSCR 1747 provides that
Iran "shall not supply, sell or transfer...any arms or
related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the
procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals..."
-- Moreover, DIO is an entity subject to the asset freeze
provisions in paragraph 12 of UNSCR 1737, so any goods
received from the DIO or any payments made to the DIO must be
frozen under the provisions of the resolution.
-- We urge you to investigate the above activities and share
with us at your earliest convenience the results of your
investigation.
-- Beyond these cases, we urge Sri Lanka to cease all
cooperation with North Korea, Iran, and Syria on goods and
technologies controlled under the nonproliferation export
control regimes and United Nations Security Council
Resolutions we have cited.
-- We look forward to our continued cooperation on this and
other related matters.
(If Asked)
-- Sanctions that could be imposed under INKSNA include:
a. No department or agency of the United States Government
or U.S. company may procure, or enter into any contract for
the procurement of any goods, technology, or services from
them;
b. No department or agency of the United States Government
or U.S. company may provide any assistance to them, and they
shall not be eligible to participate in any assistance
program of the United States Government;
c. No sales to them of any item on the United States
Munitions List are permitted and all sales to them of any
defense articles, defense services, or design and
construction services under the Arms Export Control Act are
terminated; and,
d. No new individual licenses shall be granted for the
transfer to them of items controlled under the Export
Administration Act of 1979 or the Export Administration
Regulations, and existing such licenses are suspended.
End Talking Points.
7. (U) Washington appreciates Post´s assistance on this
matter. Department Point of Contact is xxxx. Please slug all replies to
ISN/CATR, EAP/K and SCA/INS.
CLINTON
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