RSVP EXTRANCHECK PRE-LICENSE CHECK: NIKON INSTRUMENTS

UNCLAS ROME 004035

SIPDIS


USDOC FOR 532/OEA/ML NICKSON-DORSEY/ANTOINETTE DYSON
3133/USFCS/OIO/PBUCHER/JFAY
STATE FOR EB/ESP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ETTC IT BEXT
SUBJECT: RSVP EXTRANCHECK PRE-LICENSE CHECK: NIKON INSTRUMENTS
SPA APPLICATION NUMBER: D326472

REF: USDOC 4148


1. ON OCTOBER 15, 2004 DEPUTY SENIOR COMMERCIAL OFFICER
LINDA ARCHER AND COMMERCIAL SPECIALIST BARBARA LAPINI VISITED
THE COMPANY NIKON INSTRUMENTS SPA AND MET WITH LORENZO
VANNINI, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, AND ENGINEER GIANCARLO
CAPPANI, CONSULTANT.


2. CS ITALY OFFICIALS WERE WELL RECEIVED AND WERE PROVIDED
WITH AMPLE INFORMATION ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE COMPANY AND ON
THE INTENDED USE OF THE PRODUCT UNDER INVESTIGATION, A THERMAL
IMAGER BY MIKRON INFRARED, INC. OF OAKLAND, NJ.


3. UPON ARRIVAL, CS ITALY OFFICIALS LEARNED THAT THE PRE-
LICENSE CHECK SHOULD ACTUALLY BE A POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION
BECAUSE THE COMPANY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED THE THERMAL IMAGER
UNDER EXPORT LICENSE D325611. DOCUMENTATION FROM DOC WAS
PRESENTED.


4. NIKON INSTRUMENTS SPA PURCHASED THE THERMAL IMAGER TO
ALLOW ITS CLIENT COMPANY GENERAL CONTRACTOR SRL OF ROME TO USE
THE INSTRUMENT ON A TRIAL BASIS (UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION
OF NIKON INSTRUMENTS) TO EXPERIMENT ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PARTICULARLY FOR CIVIL PROTECTION
PURPOSES SUCH AS THE DETECTION OF FOREST FIRES OR FREEZING
ROAD CONDITIONS. IN PARTICULAR, NIKON AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR
ARE PLANNING TO USE THE EQUIPMENT FOR AN EXPERIMENT ON ROAD
CONDITIONS TO BE DONE ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN FLORENCE AND
BOLOGNA. FOLLOWING THE EXPERIMENTAL PHASE, GENERAL CONTRACTOR
ITSELF PLANS TO PURCHASE THERMAL IMAGERS THROUGH NIKON
INSTRUMENTS AND AN APPLICATION FOR AN EXPORT LICENSE HAS
ALREADY BEEN FILED FOR ITS FIRST PURCHASE. THE THERMAL IMAGER
PURCHASED BY NIKON INSTRUMENTS IS TO REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF
NIKON INSTRUMENTS.


5. NIKON INSTRUMENTS SPA IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF
NIKON HOLDING COMPANY BASED IN HOLLAND, WHICH IS IN TURN
WHOLLY OWNED BY NIKON CORPORATION OF JAPAN. NIKON INSTRUMENTS
SPA IS THE ITALIAN DISTRIBUTOR OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT BY
NIKON, NEC AND OTHER SUPPLIERS. BANK REFERENCES INCLUDE THE
BANK OF TOKYO/MITSUBISHI FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS, THE
BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO, BANCA INTESA, AND CASSA DI
RISPARMIO DI FIRENZE.


6. CS ITALY OFFICIALS WERE SHOWN THE THERMAL IMAGER, WHICH
IS STORED IN NIKON INSTRUMENTS OFFICES' IN SESTO FIORENTINO
NEAR FLORENCE, ITALY. NIKON EMPLOYS 12 PEOPLE AT ITS OFFICES
NEAR FLORENCE AND HAS THREE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AT SALES OFFICES
IN MILAN AND ROME. MR. VANNINI AND MR. CAPPANI WERE AWARE OF
THE RESTRICTIONS AND RULES IMPOSED ON THE IMPORTS OF
CONTROLLED ITEMS.


7. BASED ON THE COOPERATION AND ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED,
POST CONSIDERS NIKON INSTRUMENTS SPA TO BE A SUITABLE
RECIPIENT OF SENSITIVE U.S. TECHNOLOGY.

(ORIGIN: USFCS FLORENCE/BLAPINI/LARCHER)
SEMPLER


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2004ROME04035 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED