BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000500

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC AE
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 05-050088400

REF: SECSTATE 34619


1. Econchief met with Saeed Al-Hashemi, Chairman of the
Al-Hashemi Group, on April 7 to discuss reftel Blue Lantern.
Al-Hashemi explained that he was a retired UAE general who
had served as the UAE's Defense Attach in Washington from
1993-1997. After retirement in 2002, he took over the
chairmanship of the Al-Hashemi Group. He explained that the
Bridge was the one subsidiary of the Al-Hashemi group that he
ran personally, "due to the sensitivity of the business."
According to Al-Hashemi, he established the Bridge Protection
Systems about three to four years earlier to take advantage
of his expertise and contacts with the UAE military. His
only customer for defense goods and services is the UAE GHQ.


2. Al-Hashemi explained that his company had been working
with the U.S. applicant, Tradeways Ltd., and was now the
Tradeways agent in the UAE. He was aware of the proposed
license. Al-Hashemi explained that his company does not
store defense items, but delivers them directly to the UAE
military. He expressed his understanding of U.S. export
controls.


3. The Bridge appears to be a valid recipient for this
transaction.
QUINN