Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW109
2007-01-16 09:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ITRC "MIR",

Tags:  BEXP ETRD ETTC RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0016
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #0109/01 0160900
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160900Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6356
RUEAORC/USCBP WASHDC
UNCLAS MOSCOW 000109 

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTA
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ITRC "MIR",
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D365307

REFTEL: USDOC 02863


UNCLAS MOSCOW 000109

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTA
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: ITRC "MIR",
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D365307

REFTEL: USDOC 02863



1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided
below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export
Administration Act.


2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine
the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, ITRC
"MIR", Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS
license application D365307 as the ultimate consignee
of a traveling wave tube, model: VTU6125C4. These
items are controlled for national security, nuclear
non-proliferation reasons under ECCN 3A001. The
licensee is Communications and Power Industries, 811
Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304.


3. On December 15, 2006, Export Control Attache Donald
Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the
requested pre-license check at the offices of
Intergovernmental TV and Radio Company "Mir" (ITRC
Mir),44, Krasnobogatyrskaya St., Moscow, Russia. The
export control team met with Aleksey Ikonnikov, Vice
President.


4. ITRC Mir was founded in 1993 by a multilateral
decree of the governments of Russia, Tajikistan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan after the dissolution of
the Soviet Union. The company was formed to provide
satellite uplink/downlink services for media and
private organizations. The shareholders of the company
are the heads of government of each member country,
and the company is 100% owned by these governments.
The company has an office in each country, and three
in Russia located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and
Vladikhavkaz. The headquarters of the organization is
at the Moscow location, which employs 300.


5. The primary use of the satellite network is for
television program transmission and electronic
newsgathering. The satellite network went live in
1996, and currently broadcasts 18 hours of news and
public affairs / public interest programming from the
Moscow office daily. The equipment utilized in the
Moscow center is all of U.S. origin, and was installed
in 1998. ITRC Mir also leases satellite time to
private organizations and other government users. The
company hopes to expand its Russian operations, and is
exploring options to obtain more bandwidth to support
additional programming. Mr. Ikonnikov believes the
demilitarization of certain satellite band frequencies
will allow for additional band segments for ITRC Mir.
The company is increasing the budget for replacement
of equipment to 12,000,000 USD, up from 8,000,000 USD
last year.


6. The Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) in reftel will
replace a damaged TWT utilized in a mobile satellite
ground station. The mobile ground station system,
known as a "flyaway," allows ITRC Mir to establish
ground stations in the field for electronic
newsgathering operations, and for establishing a
temporary satellite connection at a client facility.
The TWT, which contains a glass tube, was broken in
the field. The team was shown a CPI VTU-6395M2 TWT,
serial number 98D013-accept date 9821. Digital
photographs of the TWT were taken and are available
from post upon request. ITRC Mir has contracted to
replace the damaged goods through Communications and
Power Industries (CPI) regional office in Cham,
Switzerland. The Russian distributor, NPO
Svyazproyekt, is listed as an intermediate consignee,
and is handling customs formalities.


7. When not in use, the TWT is stored at the ITRC Mir
office in Moscow. The office has a 24x7 security
presence, as satellite centers are officially
considered to be sensitive sites under Russian law.
Each flyaway has two engineers and two operators who
are responsible for use, maintenance and security of
the unit when in the field. The storage facility at
the Moscow office is a locked room with limited
access.


8. Recommendations: Post recommends ITRC Mir, Moscow,
Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive U.S.
origin commodities. It is requested that post be

notified of final disposition of the application, and
of any shipments for this organization in order to
conduct appropriate FCS follow-up and statistical
reporting.
(FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE)
BURNS