FRANCE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE

UNCLAS PARIS 007182

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
ABUJA FOR POL-MIL OFFICER DANIEL AMBROSE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END USE
CHECK ON TAA 1551-05

REF: STATE 171558


1. Per reftel, Post Blue Lantern Action Officer attempted to
contact MOD officials both directly and indirectly to inquire
about French company Avon Communications S.A. However, to date,
the MOD has been unresponsive. The Avon company executive we
spoke to (see paras 4 and 5 below) said that Avon has years of
experience working for the French Navy.


2. Searches of various French business databases and
directories did consistently confirm that the company was at the
address given in reftel, duly registered and operating since
January 1994. Robert Avon is listed as the President; Pascal
Avon is listed as the Administrator Director General; and the
total number of company employees is given as 14. Company
activities listed include storage, maintenance, and
telecommunications services. According to French business
directory www.bottin.fr, the company had a total annual turnover
of 4.259 million euros and net earnings of 483,000 euros for
2003, the only year with financial data listed.


3. A similar database called "Kompass" also confirmed the
company's address and principals. In addition, it gave the
company's website: www.avon-com.fr This website, which
includes a "Northrup Grumman Electronic Systems Sperry Marine"
logo gives "service contact" Patrick Campagnoli and provides his
mobile phone number 33-6-13-36-92-09 and email P_Campagnoli@avon-
com.fr The website appears to give no further information or
links. Our consul in Marseille visited the company site in the
"Village d'Entreprises Saint Henri" and confirmed their place of
business.


4. Consul Marseille met with Avon Communications Director
General Pascal Avon on October 14. According to him, the
company installs, maintains and repairs electronic navigational
systems on boats. They also do some work on airplane systems,
but not as much (they have some dealings with Eurocopter). Avon
represents Sperry Marine (part of Northrop Grumman) and has
worked with them for many years all over the world, but
especially in Francophone Africa and the Middle East. They work
in both the military and private sectors. They have several
years of experience working for the French Navy installing and
maintaining navigational systems and, according to Mr. Avon,
have almost a monopoly on this work. They work primarily on
ships built in France, wherever they may be located. Their
customers include the French Navy, DCN, THALES, and other
foreign Navies: Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania, among others.


5. Mr. Avon also said that they work on merchant marine vessels
and private yachts. He noted that they had a booth at the recent
Monaco Yacht Show. Avon has been working with the Nigerian Navy
since 2001. According to Mr. Avon, the Nigerians decided they
wanted to overhaul and upgrade their old, French-built ships and
Avon began by installing Sperry Marine civilian navigational
systems. Now they want to install "MK 39 MOD 3A Ring Laser"
Inertial Navigation Systems, which is the purpose for this
agreement. Only Avon's technicians (French) will be doing the
actual installation. Mr. Avon did say they may hire someone
locally, but it would be strictly in as a very low-level
handyman assistance role. Avon Communications seems to be a
thriving business. They have offices in Le Havre, Brest, Saint
Naziare, and Antibes, in addition to their main office in
Marseille. Since 1994, it has grown from a one-person repair
company to what it is now with 18 full time employees. They
work primarily with Sperry Marine. Lastly, Mr. Avon mentioned
that they have signed similar TAA's in the past and understood
our licensing process.

Stapleton