OMAN BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION 050043972

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000852 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR (STITZIEL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC MU SUBJECT: OMAN BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION 050043972 REF: A. MUSCAT 613 ¶B. BRUSSELS 1777 ¶C. STATE 65529 This is an action message, please see paragraph 2. ¶1. (SBU) On September 3, Embassy received a formal response from Brigadier General Habeeb bin Muhammad bin Habeeb al-Balushi of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on the purchase of 93 Vision Block 2510-00-630-0790 spare parts to be used for the M-48 tank, as listed ref C. In his letter, al-Balushi noted that the RAO does not have the M-48 tank in its fleet, and therefore did not order spare parts for it. ¶2. (SBU) Action Request and Comment: Embassy requests that Department confirm with the Minneapolis-based seller that the pre-license application is correct in identifying the M-48 tank as the model for the spare parts, as opposed to the M-60 tank. From review of the Omani agent's records (ref A),the Ministry of Defense did place an order for 93 Vision Block 2510-00-630-0790 spare parts for its M-60 fleet. Furthermore, Embassy understands that this particular spare part can be used on either the M-48 tank or the M-60 tank. End Action Request and Comment. GRAPPO