Unclassified Cable Reveals Genscher’s Perfidiousness

UNCLASSIFIED

ROUTINE ZYUW RUDKMKA9689 0300038

R 292002Z JAN 91

FM FBIS LONDON UK

TO
FBIS RESTON VA USCINCCENT//CCPA//
FBIS VIENNA AU FBIS LONDON UK//DW//
NAVOPINTCEN SUITLAND MD VOA WASH DC
STORAGE CENTER FBIS RESTON VA AMEMBASSY DOHA
AMEMBASSY MANAMA SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
DEFINTAGNCY WASH DC
CDR PSYOPGP FT BRAGG NC//ASOF-POG-SB//
MPC FT GEO G MEADE MD
AMEMBASSY BONN//GROBEL AND EDGAR OCA//
AMEMBASSY SANAA VOA MUNICH GE
FBIS TEL AVIV IS FBIS AMMAN JO
FBIS NICOSIA CY
ACCT FBLD-EWOK

UNCLAS 7H/PMU/FRG MEPEN 209

WARNING: DOHA MINIMIZE CONSIDERED

SERIAL: LD2901200291

COUNTRY: FRG

SUBJ: GOVERNMENT KNEW FIRMS INVOLVED IN MODIFYING SCUDS

SOURCE: HAMBURG DPA IN GERMAN 1815 GMT 29 JAN 91
TEXT:

((TEXT)) HAMBURG (DPA) — THE MODERNIZATION AND UPGRADING OF THE
IRAQI SCUD MISSILES WAS PROMOTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THROUGH GUARANTEES THE TELEVISION MAGAZINE PROGRAM PANORAMA HAS
CLAIMED. SERVICES BY GERMAN COMPANIES FOR THE IRAQI DICTATOR
SADDAM HUSAYN WERE COVERED BY BONN WITH A HERMES ((EXPORT CREDIT))
GUARANTEE, THE NDR REPORTED ON TUESDAY EVENING.

ACCORDING TO PANORAMA, IRAQ WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
UPGRADE
THE SOVIET SCUD MISSILE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAN REACH ISRAEL
WITHOUT THE HELP OF GERMAN FIRMS. SINCE THE MIDDLE OF 1988 BAGHDAD
HAS GIVEN OUR CONTRACTS TO FEDERAL GERMAN FIRMS, ESPECIALLY TO
SO-CALLED TECHNOLOGY DEALERS. AT LEAST 20 GERMAN FIRMS HAVE
SUPPLIED
VALVES, INTAKE JETS, PUMPS AND PRESSURE TANKS, AS WELL AS PRODUCTION
AND TESTING EQUIPMENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FOR HUSAYN’S MISSILE
PROJECT.

ACCORDING TO PANORAMA, SINCE AUGUST 1989 THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF THE ECONOMY IN ESCHBORN —
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GRANTING EXPORT LICENSES — AND THE FEDERAL
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE HAVE KNOWN THAT PROJECT NUMBERS GIVEN IN
BUSINESS PAPERS WERE IN FACT CODE NUMBERS FOR AN IRAQI MISSILE
PROGRAM. IN SPITE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE, THE ESCHBORN OFFICE, IN ISOLATED
INSTANCES, GRANTED LICENCES FOR SOME OF THE PARTS ORDERED FROM
GERMANY BY IRAQ, EVEN AFTER AUTUMN 1989.

A CONFIDENTIAL PAPER FROM THE BONN FOREIGN MINISTRY OF 4 JANUARY
1990, WHICH IS IN THE HANDS OF PANORAMA, PROVES THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT’S SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXPORT OF MISSILE
TECHNOLOGY TO IRAQ. ACCORDING TO THIS, THE FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE HAD INFORMATION SHOWING THAT A “MANUFACTURING RISK
GUARANTEE” (HERMES GUARANTEE) FOR SOME 1.5 MILLION GERMAN MARKS
WAS GRANTED. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CONSENT OF THE MINISTER OF
FINANCE AND IN AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC
COOPERATION.

(ENDALL) 291815 OHRINGER/PX 30/0017Z JAN BT

UNCLASSIFIED