Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRATISLAVA721
2005-09-10 07:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES

Tags:  MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

100720Z Sep 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000721 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015
TAGS: MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES


Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000721

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015
TAGS: MARR MASS ECON PGOV PINR PREL LO
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES


Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (U) This is a guidance request, please see para 2.


2. (S) Peter Peniaska, head of the Slovak arms firm Petina
International, is seeking the USG position on potential sales
of Slovak military equipment to Cameroon and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. The company has applied for a license
with the Ministry of Economy (MOE) and has requested a
decision before 12 September. Post requests guidance and
information on any objections the USG would have to the
transactions. We will share the information not with
Peniaska, but with the licensing offices in the MFA and MOE.


3. (S) Petina Intentional would like to export the following
military items:
- 144 T-72 Tanks
- 50 BVP-1 Infantry Fight Vehicles
- 25 Mortars 120 mm
- 3000 Mortar rounds 120 mm
- Ammunition 14.5 mm, 12.7 mm 7.62x39, and 7.62x54


4. (S) The license for weapons export would be valid for one
year. The amount of the sale is an estimated at 500 million
SK (approximately 16.3 million USD). The materials would be
transported through Poland by rail and then to the Democratic
Republic of the Congo or Cameroon from a Polish port.


5. (S) Comment: Peniaska has approached the embassy before
on a number of occasions about possible arms sales in
conflict zones. He and his associates have told emboffs that
an informal agreement exists with the GOS that the U.S.
embassy should vet sales to these areas. However, emboffs
opine that silence or a nod of approval from the U.S. would
be used as leverage with the GOS to obtain an otherwise shady
export license.
VALLEE


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