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