BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE - LICENSES 050117804,

UNCLAS QUITO 000973 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOMC ETTC EC SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE - LICENSES 050117804, 050117818, 050117829 AND 050117848 REF: STATE 90321 ¶1. (SBU) Post confirms completion of a pre-license check on licenses 050117804, 050117818, 050117829 and 050117848 for the export of automatic weapons and grenade launchers to Ecuador. Post also confirms that the end-user, Armada del Ecuador, has legitimately ordered the defense articles listed in reftel, to be purchased from MLM International Corp through consignee MG Suber and Associates. ¶2. (SBU) In establishing the bona fides of the purchase request, Post spoke with Fabian Jarrin Moreno, Commander of the Ecuadorian Marines Corps and the end user certification official for the Ecuadorian Armed Forces. Moreno confirmed that the orders for the firearms listed on the license applications in reftel were legitimate. He noted that the GOE is purchasing this large quantity of firearms and grenade launchers to equip the increased number of military personnel in the Northern Border region, specifically in the areas of General Farfan and various posts along the Putumayo River of Sucumbios province, as well as other Ecuadorian Marine Corps units in the environs near the cities of San Lorenzo and Esmeraldas in Esmeraldas province. ¶3. (SBU) In general, weapons are not being displaced with this purchase. Rather, the purchase represents an increase in equipment to support the Ecuadorian military's operations in the Northern Border region. ¶4. (SBU) Post further notes that this transaction supports our theater security cooperation strategy and is in the USG's interests in the region. Post recommends approval of this purchase. HODGES