TNAG-2029-FCO40-2891-Hong-Kong-freezing-of-Kuwaiti-and-Iraqi-assets-1990 — Page 128

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115406 MDLIAN 527.

(0)

10 CONTAINERS ARE HELD UP IN DUBAI AND ONE CONTAINER IN GOLFE DE FOS, FRANCE, BECAUSE OF THE EMBARGO WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT AFTER THE GOODS WERE EXPORTED FROM HONG KONG TO IRAQ (SEE MY FIRST FAX, SENT SEPARATELY).

(E)

MR MOUNIR ABOUDAOUD LEFT HONG KONG ON 30 SEPTEMBER 1990 FOR LIBYA REPORTEDLY TO NEGOTIATE THE RESALE TO LIBYA OF THE GOODS HELD UP IN DUBAI. THE POTENTIAL BUYER IS LITRACO CO, РО BOX 5686, BENGAZI, LIBYA.

(F)

AS FOR THE CONSIGNMENT HELD UP IN FRANCE, THE FRENCH CUSTOMS HAD ORDERED THE RETURN OF THE GOODS TO THE ORIGINAL EXPORTING COUNTRY (CHINA).

(G)

MR. MOUNIR SENT A TELEX FROM HONG KONG TO THE MINISTER OF TRADE OF IRAQ ON 28 SEPTEMBER SAYING THAT HE WOULD BE SENDING HIS REPRESENTATIVE, MR MAKIN AL BABBILI (SYRIAN, P/P NO. 843025), TO BAGHDAD WITHIN TWO DAYS TO GIVE ECICO'S NEW OFFER ON THE DECISION REACHED WITH THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. THE TEXT OF THE TELEX IS IN MY SECOND FAX, SENT SEPARATELY).

(H)

ECICO HAD INTRODUCED A COMPANY CALLED AL MANSORYA AGR PROJECT CO CAIRO, EGYPT TO AN IRAQI BUYER ABOUT A YEAR AGO FOR THE EXPORT OF EGGS FROM EGYPT TO IRAQ. WE HAVE NO MORE DETAILS OF

THIS BUSINESS.

3.

NO SHIPMENTS TO IRAQ FROM HONG KONG HAVE BEEN MADE BY ECICO

SINCE 3 AUGUST 1990.

4.

BASED ON THE STATEMENTS AND THE AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE, THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE ECICO INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO HAS CLOSE BUSINESS RELATIONS WITH IRAQ. MOREOVER, AS A RESULT OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS AND THE TRADE EMBARGO, THE COMPANY IS NOW IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

5.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT MR MOUNIR VISITED BAGHDAD, IRAQ FROM 17-23 SEPTEMBER 1990 AND HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH MR FAROUK AL OBAIDI, THE TRADE MINISTER OF IRAQ. A DECISION WAS REACHED, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN WHAT THE DECISION WAS: BOTH SHOKR AND FUNG DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ITS DETAILS. IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME HOWEVER THAT THE DECISION RELATED TO CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE ROUTES FOR FURTHER

CONSIGNMENTS.

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