BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON LICENCE APPLICATION

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000789

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC: KBALLARD, S/CT: BAVERILL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC US AE
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK ON LICENCE APPLICATION
050104817

REF: A. STATE 63103

B. 07 ABU DHABI 1249

C. 07 Abu Dhabi 564

D. 07 Abu Dhabi 474


1. (U) On July 1, ECONCHIEF and TDY ECONOFF met with Colonel Muhair
Ali Al Khatri, General Manager, and Major Mohammed Ali Al Shamsi,
Operations Officer, of the Critical National Infrastructure Authority
(CNIA) regarding license 050104817 for the export of carbines,
accessories, and training. ECONCHIEF explained the background for
the visit and provided information on the U.S. munitions licensing
system. Colonel Al Khatri expressed an understanding of the
importance of U.S. Munitions List restrictions as well as a desire to
work with the U.S., including through future training and assistance
on infrastructure development and protection.


2. (SBU) The CNIA was established in May 2007. It is an independent
civil authority charged with assessing the threat to and developing
measures to protect Abu Dhabi's critical infrastructure, including
onshore and offshore oil and gas production facilities, power plants,
desalination facilities airports, and seaports. Currently most of the
CNIA's personnel are seconded from either the UAE military or from
the Ministry of Interior (police). CNIA officials explained that the
goal is to develop the CNIA's own human resources through
recruitment. Colonel Al Khatri explained that he was on a two-year
secondment, at the end of which he would either return to the UAE
military or remain with the CNIA. CNIA officials indicated they
currently had around 3,000 employees.


3. (SBU) CNIA officials were aware of the license application and
stated that CNIA had a current signed contract with the
"International Golden Group" (IGG) for the purchase of carbines,
accessories, and training. Col Al Khatri affirmed that he had signed
the end use certificates for the items. Major Al Shamsi produced the
signed contract that CNIA had with IGG and verified that the purchase
agreement matched the details provided by DTCC. CNIA officials stated
that the equipment would be used by its own forces, which are
currently providing security to oil facilities and power/water
facilities. The personal weapons that are currently in use by CNIA
personnel belong to the UAE military and were provided with the
seconded personnel. They will revert to the UAE military. CNIA will
remain the sole operator of all the USML items it purchases.


4. (SBU) International Golden Group is a UAE firm with extensive
contracts with the UAE military and police. CNIA confirmed that it
has a contract with IGG for these USML items and indicated that it
would likely continue the relationship on future transactions. IGG
was the subject of a positive Blue Lantern assessment in July 2007
(ref B). IGG was founded by -- and all the senior officers were --
former UAE military. The company was founded in 2002 to support the
local defense and law enforcement industry. It operates as a
negotiator for the UAE GHQ, a systems integrator, an agent for
foreign companies in the UAE, and a broker for transactions. It does
not handle or store sensitive goods.


5. (U) Post considers this a favorable Blue Lantern Pre-License
Check and considers IGG and CNIA reliable recipients of USML items.
See refs C and D for more on the CNIA.
QUINN