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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSM #0778 3241652
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 191652Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3913
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 2194
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STOCKHOLM 000778 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018 
TAGS: ETRD ETTC MCAP PARM KOMC IR SW SP
SUBJECT: UPDATE - SWEDES WILL PROHIBIT TRANSFER OF 
HELICOPTERS TO SPAIN 
 
REF: A. STOCKHOLM 772 
     ¶B. KOEHLER-PEARTREE TELCON 11/17/08 
     ¶C. STOCKHOLM 744 
     ¶D. STOCKHOLM 609 
     ¶E. STATE 92567 
     ¶F. 06 STOCKHOLM 243 
 
Classified By: POL Counselor Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (S) Summary: Sweden's Inspectorate for Strategic Products 
(ISP) has determined that three helicopters that were to be 
shipped to Spain are, in fact, military equipment. 
Therefore, ISP will not allow them to be exported until and 
unless the USG approves.  This information has been 
communicated to the owner of the helicopters.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (S) On November 19, Jan-Erik Lovgren, Deputy Director, the 
Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP), called POL 
Counselor to say that he had been informed that the three 
Bell 212 helicopters that are subjects of reftels did, in 
fact, have military content related to "countermeasures" and 
"defensive wiring."  Therefore, he continued, they are 
considered military equipment under Sweden's Military 
Equipment Ordinance and ISP would block their transfer until 
and unless the owner, European Helicopter Services (EHS), 
obtained all required authorizations from the U.S. 
Government.  Lovgren stated he would inform EHS owner Helena 
Pariza of this development. 
 
¶3. (S) Econoff subsequently followed up with Pariza, who 
confirmed that Lovgren had been in contact and had informed 
her that the helicopters are, in fact, classified as military 
equipment and therefore require a license and permission from 
the USG before they can be exported.  She told Econoff that 
she "wants to do this correctly" and had visited the DDTC 
website the embassy provided her.  She admitted that she had 
planned to ship them by truck Thursday, November 20, but said 
she would now wait until she has applied for and received a 
re-export license.  She has sent the website to her Swedish 
attorneys, so that they can review the information and ensure 
that all forms are completed properly.  Pariza stated also 
that she plans to decommission the helicopters, but since her 
company owns a hangar in Spain, it is much cheaper to store 
them there until they have been decommissioned.  Econoff 
asked what she planned to do once she had decommissioned the 
helos, and she replied that she did not know at this point. 
She continued to emphasize that she would not move the helos 
until she had received the proper license from the USG. 
 
¶4. (S) Comment: We note the apparent interest in the 
helicopters by Iranian visitors to Sweden (reftels), and Ms. 
Pariza's lack of clarity on what might happen to the 
helicopter parts once they are decommissioned in Spain. 
Absent any other explanation, then, we assume she would still 
like to conclude a deal with Iran for the helicopter parts. 
End Comment. 
WOOD