BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002073

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR PM/DTCC-BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC ECON CO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 050105372

REF: STATE 57843


1. (SBU) In response to reftel, Econoff initiated efforts
with MilGroup Officer to determine the circumstances
surrounding the relationship between the Colombian Air Force
(CAF) and Higher Source Aviation (HSA). On June 9, Econoff
and MilGroup Officer met with Colonel Jaime Ivan Reyes
Rincon, Director of Logistics Procurement for the CAF, and
Lt. Colonel Armin Oswaldo Gomez Guzman, Subdirector of
Acquisitions for the CAF.


2. (SBU) Gomez explained that the CAF had not ordered any
C-130 parts from HSA but had merely signed a Letter of
Interest which expressed a potential interest in ordering
such parts from HSA. Gomez said the Letter of Interest
specifically states that it does not/not obligate the CAF to
enter into a contract with HSA. Gomez said he signed the
Letter of Interest on April 4, 2008 at the request of HSA.
Accordingly, Gomez and Reyes said that the CAF had not yet
chosen to order parts from HSA over other providers. They
stated that they would not know whether the CAF was
interested in ordering parts from HSA until they had
determined the costs of parts from HSA, something they did
not yet know.


3. (SBU) Gomez and Reyes said that no additional Colombian
foreign consignees or freight forwarders are active in the
transaction at this point in time. Gomez and Reyes said that
they could not currently determine whether or not any
additional Colombian foreign consignees or freight forwarders
would be active in a transaction in the event the CAF and HSA
were to enter into a contract at a future date,


4. (SBU) Col. Reyes said that HSA agent Alejandro Ramirez
approached him at a weapons convention show last year and
indicated HSA's interest in becoming a supplier to the CAF of
C-130 parts. This contact lead to Lt. Col Gomez issuing the
Letter of Interest. Contact information for Alejandro
Ramirez is 1533 Hayes St., Hollywood, Florida, USA 33020,
phone 954.888.7299 and Colombian cell phone number
310.710.4302. Econoff contacted Ramirez at his Colombian
phone number and he confirmed that he was the Colombian agent
for HSA and that he made contact with the CAF last year at a
weapons convention show. Gomez and Reyes said they are not
familiar with Tom or Ken Kane.
BROWNFIELD