BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE END USE CHECK

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005494 SIPDIS FOR PM/DTC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR FOR PM/DTC - ANDREW OBLER ROME FOR USCS (INFO) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC KU SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-870417 REF: STATE 256762 ¶1. On December 22, EconChief and Econoff visited the offices of Gulf and Middle East Technological Solutions (GMETS) to verify that the company had received one chem/bio personal protective kit (export license 05-870417),per reftel instructions. Econoffs met with the company's managing director, John Middleton, who showed them the protective kit, which he said arrived last week. Middleton said he received the product via Federal Express from two representatives of US Cavalry Company, which sells the protective kits. The representatives sent him the product from the United Arab Emirates, where they were on a training assignment. ¶2. Middleton confirmed that the protective kit is being used as a sample for evaluation by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (MOI) through its General Department of Civil Defense. Middleton said that he has been dealing directly with officials at Civil Defense, a department within MOI, and that he received the kit under an export license for sample only. He said that MOI granted his company approval to sell the protective kits in Kuwait as the lone authorized importer of the product. Middleton added that he intends to obtain a license to import additional protective kits for sale in Kuwait, while the sample kit will be retained for personal use by his company. ¶3. GMETS appears to be a legitimate company with a range of business activities in Kuwait and the region. Middleton said the company has active contracts with the GOK, the Government of Bahrain, and a number of defense contractors. Middleton is also the Managing Director of International Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems Company (IVACIS),which is pursuing a contract to distribute large-scale electrical generators to the US Military at Camp Doha. Middleton said his company previously sold "clamshell" shelters to the US Military during Desert Storm. JONES