Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRATISLAVA356
2007-06-15 13:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

BLUE LANTERN - 05-050045303

Tags:  ETTC KOMC LO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0030
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSL #0356 1661335
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151335Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1004
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000356 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC LO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN - 05-050045303

REF: STATE 75544

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000356

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC LO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN - 05-050045303

REF: STATE 75544


1. (U) Summary. Poloff visited BW Arms on June 13 with
Bilateral Affairs Officer from Office of Defense Cooperation.
Poloff found no reason that application 05-050045303 should
not be approved. The Slovak Government has confirmed that BW
Arms is fully licensed to trade in arms and ammunition. The
Slovak Government has no/no reason to believe BW Arms is not
in compliance with applicable Slovak law, and Poloff did
not/not find any reason to suspect BW Arms has or will
violate the terms of a U.S. import license. End summary.


2. (SBU) BW Arms, s.r.o. (Comment. s.r.o. is the Slovak
abbreviation for a Limited Liability Company. End comment.)
was established June 24, 1993. Since February 15, 2002 the
sole owner of BW Arms is Miroslav Soltis, who resides at
Malleho 13, 909 01 Skalica, Slovak Republic. Until February
14, 2002, BW Arms was co-owned by David Goodwin who then
resided at Park Homer Drive, Wimborne, United Kingdom.


3. (SBU) BW Arms is a wholesaler of arms and ammunition. They
sell exclusively to small retailers in the Slovak Republic
and derive the majority of their revenue from sales of
ammunition, small caliber rifles and air rifles. BW Arms
provided Poloff with photocopies of invoices for the onward
sales of all American-made products they have received.
According to these documents, all of the American-made
products were sold onward to small retailers in the Slovak
Republic.


4. (SBU) BW Arms stores weapons in a small warehouse that is
separate from their main office. Bilateral Affairs Officer (a
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel) said the warehouse is
triple-barrier and more than adequate for the caliber of
weapons that BW Arms deals in.


5. (U) Poloff explained that BW Arms may not re-export USML
articles without USG permission. Mr. Soltis seemed to
understand this. He said that BW Arms does not sell abroad
and has no plans to sell abroad.


6. (U) BW Arms provided Poloff with a photocopy of their
firearms license and import license. It appears to be valid
and up-to-date. Issuance and validity have been independently
confirmed by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of
Justice of the Slovak Republic.


7. (SBU) BW Arms has received a single shipment from Henry
Repeating Arms. The shipment was sent on May 8, 2007 and
included:
- 10 Henry Lever Action .22
- 2 Henry Lever Magnum .22
- 5 Henry US Survival .22 Black
- 3 Henry US Survival .22 Camo
- 2 Henry Pump Action Octagon .22LR
- 5 Henry Big Boy .357/38Spl
- 200 Henry 2007 EXPORT CATALOGS (no value items)

Mr. Soltis believed these items were sent on the basis of a
2007 license. Mr. Soltis explained that Henry Repeating Arms
had been unable to obtain the necessary export license in
2006 and so BW Arms had not bought any materials from Henry
in that year. The items shipped are, however, covered by the
December 2006 license and Poloff was not able to determine
the license on the basis of which the shipment came through.
Mr. Soltis further explained that the items listed in BW Arms
license application currently under review represent the
total quantity of weapons they may purchase in 2007. Actual
purchases will likely be smaller and will depend on demand
and cash flow.


8. (SBU) Post assesses that BW Arms is a reliable recipient
of the materials listed in the application 05-050045303.


9. (U) Please note that BW Arms s.r.o.'s proper registered
address is Malleho 13, 909 01 Skalica. (The street name is
written incorrectly in reftel.) This address is the residence
of Mr. Soltis. The business office of BW Arms is at
Clementisa 54, 909 01 Skalica, Slovak Republic.


10. (U) Poloff will retain copies of all documents related to
this case for at least six months. If copies are needed
please contact chaseau@state.sgov.gov or by telephone at 421
2 5922 3376.
VALLEE