EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: TIE PELENG

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003977 SIPDIS SIPDIS USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTER USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: TIE PELENG LTD., NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA, D378720 REFTEL: USDOC 06132 ¶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, TIE Peleng Ltd, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The company is listed on BIS license application D378720 as the ultimate consignee of 2 thermal imaging cameras. These items are controlled for national security and nuclear non-proliferation reasons under ECCN 6A003. The licensee is Bullard, 1898 Safety Way, Cynthiana, KY ¶41031. ¶3. On August 8, 2007, Export Control Attache Donald Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted a pre- license check at the offices of TIE Peleng Ltd, 176-A Gagarin Avenue, office 417, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The export control team met with Nikolay Tikhomirov, General Director. ¶4. Peleng is a manufacturer of specialty fire vehicles and a distributor of firefighting equipment. The company was established in 1995, and originally imported fire apparatus from Ukraine. Since 1998 the company has specialized in the production of 16 types of heavy rescue, fireground support and specialized firefighting vehicles on Russian made chassis. Peleng sold 40 trucks in 2006. The company is also a distributor of firefighting equipment, imported from companies in France, Germany and the United States. Peleng is a distributor for Task Force Tips, a U.S. based manufacturer of nozzles and safety monitors. The company only deals with professional fire service organizations, which are under the command of the Ministry for Emergency Situations (Russian abbreviation MChS, also known by the acronym EMERCOM). Peleng employs 70 at two locations in Nizhny Novgorod: the main headquarters and a nearby fabrication facility. ¶5. Peleng signed a distribution agreement with Bullard in June, and is ordering two cameras for use in product demonstration and training of firefighters. One application was filed for demonstration purposes, with a second filed for possible resale. Mr. Tikhomirov is familiar with U.S. export control laws, and Bullard advised him on the expected conditions of the license. Mr. Tikhomirov will be personally responsible for issuing out the equipment, which will be used by 7 employees. When not in use, the cameras will be stored in a security cage located in Mr. Tikhomirov's office. The offices are guarded at all times by a private security company. The security cage is alarmed, with a direct line to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russian abbreviation MVD) Militia outpost. NOTE: The MVD Militia is the primary law enforcement organization of the Russian Federation. END NOTE. ¶6. Recommendations: Post recommends TIE Peleng Ltd, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, as a reliable recipient 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