BULGARIA CONSULTS ON ARMS TRANSFER TO COLOMBIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000051 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, WHA/AND, PM, AND ISN/CATR E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC CO BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA CONSULTS ON ARMS TRANSFER TO COLOMBIA Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (C/NF) Bulgarian government representatives have asked for our help in determining the bona fides of a proposed sale to the Colombian armed forces that is currently before Bulgaria's Export Control Commission for export license approval. The order is for 1,687 RPG-22 launchers and is being handled through the Bulgarian arms broker Aviostart, Ltd. Documentation provided by Aviostart shows the end user as the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Colombia (End User Certificate No. 182, dated 11 Dec 2006). Open-source research by Bulgarian authorities has revealed a possible discrepancy: Internet records confirm that Colombian MoD End User Certificate No. 182 was issued to Aviostart, but show a date of 25 May 2005. Copies of these documents will be emailed separately to the desk. Action Request: ¶3. (C) Post requests Department assistance in verifying the bona fides of the end user certificate provided by Aviostart. Because not all members of the Export Control Commission are aware that we were consulted on this proposed transaction, post requests that any inquiries be carried out with discretion. BEYRLE