FOLLOW-UP: BLUE LANTERN POST LICENSE

UNCLAS ROME 002005 SIPDIS FOR PM/DTC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC IT BLUE LANTERN SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP: BLUE LANTERN POST LICENSE END USE CHECKS ON LICENSES 05-801368, 05- 828803, AND 05-838504 REF: A) STATE 72510; B) STATE 219276; C) STATE 219278 ¶1. THIS MESSAGE RESPONDS TO REFTEL REQUESTS FOR POST- LICENSE CHECKS ON LICENSES 05-801368, 05-828803 AND 05-838504. THE FIRST TWO INVOLVE EXPORT OF OVER $100.000 WORTH OF PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS TO A.T.P. S.R.L. IN ITALY. THE LATTER UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02005 240908Z INVOLVES EXPORT OF TECHNICAL DATA TO LUXEMBOURG. ¶2. WITH RESPECT TO LICENSES 05-801368/05-828803, THE EMBASSY SENT TWO WRITTEN REQUESTS TO THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, JANUARY 4 AND 16, 2002, TO CONFIRM THE DESTINATION AND THE MOTIVATION FOR EXPORT OF SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND TO VERIFY THE BONA FIDES OF A.T.P. S.R.L. THE EMBASSY REQUESTED GOI ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING THE ADDRESS OF ATP AS PRIOR RESEARCH REVEALED THAT IT IS NOT LISTED UNDER THIS NAME IN THE ITALIAN COMMERCIAL DIRECTORIES. ¶3. DR. BOCCI, OUR CONTACT AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, ITALIAN DIRECTORATE FOR ARMAMENTS, PROVIDED US WITH CONTACT INFORMATION ON A.T.P. S.R.L. AND CONFIRMED TO US THAT THE FIRM IS KNOWN TO THEM AS A SHOOTING CLUB. HOWEVER, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS SPECIFIC EXPORT, HE PASSED OUR REQUEST TO THE JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF DEFENSE OFFICE, THE COMPETENT ITALIAN AUTHORITY, FOR A FORMAL REPLY. EMBASSY OFFICERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ATP A NUMBER OF TIMES, VIA PHONE AND FAX, BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REACH THE COMPANY. EMBASSY ALSO SENT A NOTE DIRECTLY TO THE ITALIAN JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF DEFENSE OFFICE TO SOLICIT A SWIFT REPLY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 02005 240908Z ¶4. REGARDING LICENSE 05-838504 OF THE FIRM PROGRES (EXPORT OF TECHNICAL DATA TO LUXEMBOURG) THE STATUS IS SIMILAR. THE EMBASSY'S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THIS COMPANY IS WELL KNOWN TO THEM, ON A GENERAL BASIS, AS IT WORKS IN THE DEFENSE SECTOR AND DOES BUSINESS WITH NATO. HOWEVER, TO CONFIRM USE AND DESTINATION OF SUBJECT MATERIAL, FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED. HE INFORMED US THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE ITALIAN JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF DEFENSE OFFICE. WE HAVE WRITTEN DIRECTLY TO THE JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF DEFENSE OFFICE TO SOLICIT A SWIFT REPLY. SEMBLER UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME02005 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED