US embassy cable - 05VIENNA3737

S E C R E T VIENNA 003737 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/PRA, EUR/AGS, NP/ECNP, AND INR/SPM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2015 
TAGS: ETTC, PARM, PREL, AU 
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: STEYR-MANNLICHER CONTINUES BUSINESS WITH 
IRAN 
 
REF: A) STATE 195350 B) VIENNA 3679 C) VIENNA 2932 
 
Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips for 
reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (S) Econ Unit Chief delivered ref A points November 25 to 
Helmut Krehlik, Head of the Ministry of Economy's Export and 
Import Control Division.  Krehlik said he was not surprised 
that Steyr-Mannlicher President Wolfgang Fuerlinger wanted to 
sell weapons production technology to Iran.  Krehlik opined 
that Fuerlinger wanted to sell the technology to the highest 
bidder (ref C).  In this connection, Krehlik said he had 
heard several months ago that Fuerlinger was on the verge of 
transferring the Malaysian production, including technology, 
to the Indian defense firm Mahindra Defense Systems, part of 
the Mahindra Group.  Moreover, Krehlik added that in private 
conversations over the last several months, Fuerlinger had 
asked Krehlik obtusely and in general terms if Austrian law 
would permit technology transfers outside of Austria. 
 
2.  (S) According to Krehlik, the GoA could investigate and 
charge Steyr-Mannlicher with "arms brokering" under the 
amended Foreign Trade Act, if the firm does transfer weapons 
technology outside of Austria from from one non-EU state to 
another non-EU country.  Krehlik promised to pass our 
information to relevant GoA entities and to keep post 
informed of developments. 
VAN VOORST