BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK COMPLETED ON YEMEN AIR

UNCLAS SANAA 003103 SIPDIS STATE - PASS TO PM/DTCC PETER DADE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC YM SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK COMPLETED ON YEMEN AIR FORCE SUPPLIERS: ASTON AVIATION, TRANSWORLD AVIATION, AND SEGERS REF: A. SECSTATE 153143 ¶B. SANAA 2483 ¶C. 13 SEPTEMBER 2005 PETER DADE EMAIL "SANAA 2483 OF 8/31/05 - EXTENSION OF BLUE LANTERN CASE" ¶1. Per ref A, Post contacted Yemeni Air Force to inquire if it has ordered U.S.-origin military aircraft spare parts from the firms Aston Aviation, Transworld Aviation, and Segers Aviation. Post made repeated inquiries though OMC in routine meetings and through diplomatic notes for several weeks. Through an October 5 letter from the Commander of the Yemen Air Force (YAF),Mahmoud Saleh AlAhmar, the Yemen Air Force said: "We would like to inform you that we deal with Aston and Transworld companies on contracts for a total of not exceeding seven million U.S. dollars." This estimate from the YAF falls short of the three separate $20 million license applications cited for the three suppliers in ref A. ¶2. If futher inquiry or clarification is requested, please contact: Julie Kim Johnson Economic and Commercial Officer, Embassy Sanaa Tel: 967-1-755-2252 Email: johnsonjk@state.gov Krajeski