Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PANAMA363
2006-02-25 11:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Panama
Cable title:  

BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK ON DDTC LICENSE 977347,

Tags:  ETTC KOMC PNAT US 
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VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0363 0561103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251103Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7464
UNCLAS PANAMA 000363 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - PETER DADA
WHA/CEN GREG SCHIFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC PNAT US
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK ON DDTC LICENSE 977347,
FAIRMONT COMPANY, SA

REF: 05 STATE 227294

UNCLAS PANAMA 000363

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC - PETER DADA
WHA/CEN GREG SCHIFFER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC PNAT US
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECK ON DDTC LICENSE 977347,
FAIRMONT COMPANY, SA

REF: 05 STATE 227294


1. Per reftel, EmbOffs confirmed the bona fides of Fairmont
Company with Panama's corporate registry. Fairmont has been
registered with Panama's Public Registry since September

1975. EmbOffs visited Fairmont Corporation and believe its
purchase of the Cineflex aerial camera suite is a legitimate
business transaction.


2. On February 21, 2006, EmbOffs conducted a site visit to
Fairmont Company and met with Fairmont Consultant Silvia
Gallo and Neil Boshoss, a helicopter pilot and camera
operator for Fairmont. Alex Schmidheiny, Vice President of
the Albatros Media Foundation also attended the meeting.
Fairmont Company owns and operates equipment including
helicopters used by Albatros Media Foundation to prepare
documentaries on places such as the Panama Canal and the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Albatros also
prepares film footage for newspapers and television programs
in Panama. Other customers in Panama for their film services
include TVN Channel 2, Copa Airlines, and the daily newspaper
La Prensa. The Albatros Media Foundation makes documentaries
on environmental issues to encourage worldwide conservation
of areas such as the Central American rainforest. Fairmont
ordered the aerial camera equipment last year to assist
Albatros in preparing new documentaries on ecologically
sensitive areas in Panama, Costa Rica, and other Latin
American countries. During the visit EmbOffs viewed a
professional quality CDs program produced by Fairmont.


3. By all appearances, Fairmont Company is a legitimate
business that is purchasing the aerial camera for further
film production.

EATON