BLUE LANTERN, CASE 05-897361

UNCLAS ROME 004636 SIPDIS FOR PM/DTC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETTC IT KOMC BLUE LANTERN SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN, CASE 05-897361 REF: A. STATE 253311 ¶B. MILAN 00641 ¶1. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE NUMBER 05-897361, THE EXPORT OF FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS TOTALLING USD 14,500 (REF A) TO THE CARLO GAVAZZI COMPANY. ¶2. CONSULATE MILAN OFFICERS MET WITH COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AND CONDUCTED AN ON-SITE INSPECTION OF THE COMPANY AS REPORTED IN REFTEL (B),AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRM APPEARED TO BE LEGITIMATE AND ENGAGED IN THE ACTIVITIES IT CLAIMED TO BE. HOWEVER, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SENT A LETTER TO THE EMBASSY DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 2003, INDICATING THAT THE FIRM DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE OFFICIAL REGISTRY OF ITALIAN COMPANIES ALLOWED TO TRADE IN SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES. ¶3. ACCORDING TO THE AERONAUTICS DIVISION OF THE GOI MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, THE COMPANY IS INVOLVED IN THE C130J PROGRAM OF TRADING IN COMMERCIAL SATELLITES. IN ADDITION, THE MOD ASSURED THE EMBASSY THAT THE COMPANY ALSO HAS A JOINT VENTURE WITH L3 COMMUNICATIONS, A LOCKHEED-MARTIN SUBSIDIARY. ¶4. THE MOD RESPONSE CLEARS UP THE CONFUSION AND CONFIRMS A SATISFACTORY FINDING. THE APPARENT CONTRADICTION BETWEEN EMBASSY'S REFTEL (B) FINDING AND THE MFA RESPONSE MAY ARISE BECAUSE THE GOI DOES NOT LIST THE TECHNOLOGY IN QUESTION AS SENSITIVE AND POTENTIALLY DUAL-USE. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME04636 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED