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