BLUE LANTERN REPORT 05-929192

UNCLAS SANAA 001968 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN REPORT 05-929192 REF: SECSTATE 134576 ¶1. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance requested Post assistance with Blue Lantern case 05-929192, a check on Aston Aviation and its C-130 parts transaction with the Yemen Air Force, Ref. Brigadier General Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar, the Commander of the Yemen Air Force, and Ahmed Hadi al-Sheani, Managing Director of the Office of the Yemen Air Force Commander responded to Post's query. (Paragraph 3.) ¶2. The Yemen Air Force confirmed that they placed the order outlined in Reftel to Aston Aviation, but could not present a purchase or a contract with Aston Aviation to substantiate that it is the end user of the C-130 parts. Al-Sheani did attest, however, to a five-year business relationship with Aston Aviation, and described the company as reliable and reputable. ¶3. Below is the July 5 transcript of the fax from the Air Force Commander Al-Ahmar. He confirmed the Air Force order and receipt of two of the four parts listed in Ref: Begin text: In reply to your letter dated 28/06/2004 regarding inquiry about the proposal No. (0845/PO/04) offered by ASTON company which has been signed on 19/05/2004. Therefore, we inform you that those goods are included in the order presented by Y.A.F. and A.D. under the Contract No. (P/2003-10-13-5214) dated 5112/2003 (sic) Two parts have been delivered up to now and the others are under way. With best wishes, Brig. Gen Mohammed Sahleh al-Ahmar Yemen AF and AD Commander End text. KRAJESKI