Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Pre-License End-Use Check

VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1806 3292031
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 252026Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0000
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0000
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0000
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 121806
NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SOFIA FOR JOSH HUCK
OSLO FOR AUD-FRANCES MCKERNAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2010
TAGS: ETTC KOMC NO BU
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSE xxxx
REF: 09 OSLO 595

Classified By: Daniel J. Buzby, for reasons 1.4(a), (b), and (d)

1. (U) This is an Action Request. See paragraphs 4 - 5.

2. (U) The Department´s Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests Posts´ assistance in conducting
a pre-license check on license xxxx for the export of
rifles to Bulgaria. Posts are requested to complete this
Blue Lantern check within 30 days. Lack of response to a
Blue Lantern check will affect pending and future licenses
involving parties to this license.

3. (C) Reason for Request: A previous Blue Lantern indicated
that foreign intermediate consignee Reidar Ostby of Norway
may not be properly registered with or authorized by the
Government of Norway (GON) to import or broker defense
articles (REFTEL). REFTEL instructs USG not/not to contact
Reidar Ostby pending an investigation by the GON. In
addition, end-user Star Force of Bulgaria, has been party to
several licenses in the past but has no Blue Lantern history
with PM/DTCC. This request is for Post Oslo to inform the
GON of this transaction involving Reidar Ostby and provide
guidance to PM/DTCC on how best to handle this authorization
request. This request is also to establish the bona fides of
Star Force.

4. (C) Action Request Oslo: Post is requested to inform the
appropriate officials of the GON of Reidar Ostby´s
involvement in this transaction. Post is also requested to
provide guidance to PM/DTCC on how best to handle this
license request. For example, PM/DTCC can remove Reidar
Ostby from the license, disallowing the U.S. applicant from
employing the services of the company, if the GON sees no
conflict with their investigation.

5. (U) Action Request Sofia: Post is requested to establish
the bona fides of Star Force by making inquiries to
representatives of the company and appropriate authorities of
the Government of Bulgaria. The following points are
included for guidance:
(To Star Force)
--When was your company established and who are its
principals?
--What products and services does your company provide? Who
are your regular customers and where do they reside?
--What are your annual sales of U.S.-origin firearms?
--Do you sell firearms to customers that reside outside
Bulgaria? If so, who are these customers and where do they
reside?
--Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
unauthorized re-transfer or re-export?
(To Appropriate Import/Export and/or Law Enforcement
Authorities)
--Is Star Force properly authorized to import and sell
defense articles in Bulgaria?
--Do you have any information on Star Force that would call
in to question their reliability as a recipient of U.S.
defense articles?
In its reply, Post may also comment on any other information
pertinent to these transactions such as security of
facilities, end-use, and concerns about the entities
involved.

6. (U) Details of license applications:
DTC Case: xxxx
QUANTITY/COMMODITY:
46 Model 700 Bolt Action Rifles, .22-.308 Calibers
License Value: USD $14,386
SELLER:
Freedom Group, Inc
Remington Arms Co.
PO Box 700
870 Remington Drive
Madison, NC 27025
FOREIGN INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE:
Reidar Ostby
Stemmen 9, PO Box 26
N-4820, Froland
Norway
IZA Warehousing GMBH
Internationale Logistik Hamburg
AM Fahrkanal 3
D-20457 Hamburg
Germany
FOREIGN END-USER:
Star Force Ltd.
29 Ekzarh Josiph STR
1000 Sofia
Bulgaria
Tel: 00359 2 9872310 / 9872342 / 9872397
Email: starforce@mail.orbitel.bg
PURPOSE:
For commercial resale for hunting, sporting, and home defense
purposes in Bulgaria

7. (U) Submitted in support of the license application were
the following documents (PM/DTCC will fax documentation to
Posts upon request):
DSP-83 signed by Kimberly Phillips (Freedom Group) dated
11/24/2009 and Konstantin Madjarov (Star Force) dated
11/24/2009
Import Authorization No. 008630 issued by (NOTE: Written in
Bulgarian) signed by Illegible dated 03/11/2009
Purchase Order No. 3 from Star Force Ltd signed by Konstantin
Madjarov dated 07/28/2009

8. (U) Please slug reply for PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN
COORDINATOR and include the words "Blue Lantern" and the case
number in the subject line. POC is xxxx, Phone:
xxxx; Email: xxxx; SIPRNET:
xxxx. The Blue Lantern Guidebook (ref)
is available as a PDF file on Intellipedia:
http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/
Blue Lantern End-Use Monitoring Program

9. (U) Department is grateful for Posts´ assistance in this
matter.
CLINTON

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