US embassy cable - 04PARIS9154

S E C R E T PARIS 009154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NP/CBM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2014 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, ETTC, HK, PK, CM, GM, FR, MTCRE 
SUBJECT: U.S. EMBASSY DEMARCHE TO THE FRENCH CONCERNING 
POSSIBLE PROLIFERATION-RELATED ACTIVITIES BETWEEN INDIA'S 
DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (DRDO) AND 
THE FRENCH FIRM SAGEM 
 
REF: SECSTATE 250901 
 
Classified By: EST Counselor Robert W. Dry for Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S)  On 12 December 2004, EST officer Alexander Tounger 
delivered a demarche and provided a non-paper to French 
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Point of Contact 
(POC) David Bertolotti, MFA Deputy Director of Disarmament 
and Nuclear Non-proliferation, concerning the planned visit 
in mid-October 2004 by scientists from India's Defense 
Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to the French 
firm SAGEM.  In response, Bertolotti commented that he found 
the possible inclusion of the project director for the Agni 
medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) project in the group of 
visiting DRDO scientists to be "curious."  Bertolotti then 
added that Sagem was well acquainted with the regulations 
governing the transfer of controlled materials and 
technology, and he would be very surprised if the company 
was, in fact, providing assistance to the DRDO with the 
intention to pass prohibited technologies.  Bertolotti 
assured EST officer that he would look into the matter 
immediately. 
Wolff