Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RABAT445
2008-05-18 15:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHRB #0445 1391527 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 181527Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8582 INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4094 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS RABAT 000445
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 05-050096158
REF: SECSTATE 50430
UNCLAS RABAT 000445
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 05-050096158
REF: SECSTATE 50430
1. (SBU) Post validates the bona fides of application
05-050096158 and asses the information conveyed reftel as
accurate. On May 16, Econoff visited Technical Communication
Solutions Maroc (TCSM) and met with its Director, Ahmed
Eljorfi. TCSM is a small consulting business, with an office
in the industrial zone of Temara. Eljorfi was able to speak
about the sale, intended use, and export license application
for 12 x Advanced Radar Surveillance Systems (ARSS-1),and
produced operating and maintenance manuals for the equipment.
He produced his file of the transaction that included a
signed purchase order between the Chief of the Procurement
Division, National Defense Administration (MOD) and
Telephonics Corp, signed January 9, 2008. Eljorfi explained
his (TCSM) role in the transaction as a consultant and
facilitator, who was first approached by Colonel Major
Boujemaa Bouraada, Inspector of Transmission (Signal Corps)
in 2007.
2. (SBU) Eljorfi is a retired Royal Moroccan Air Force
(RMAF) avionics and radar officer/technician. He attended
technical training with the U.S. Air Force at Chanute AFB, IL
in 1977, and at McClellan AFB, CA in 1983. He retired from
the RMAF in 1992 and worked for Harris Corp. until starting
his own consulting firm in 1999. His firm specializes in
security and surveillance equipment. He explained that the
12 ARSS-1 radars are ground surveillance systems that will be
used by Moroccan border security forces to detect illegal
immigrants and unauthorized transit along Morocco's borders.
He said TCSM would never take possession of the equipment,
but that it would instead go directly to the Direction of
Reception and Transit in Casablanca (a military storage and
reception facility) before being deployed to the field.
Eljorfi explained that his role was to act as Telephonics
(Griffon Corporation's electronic and communication systems
subsidiary) intermediary in Morocco, and to provide
instruction to the Moroccan military on its operation and
maintenance. When asked how he became involved with
Telephonics, Eljorfi said he was first approached by the
Signal Corps in February 2007, who was interested in
purchasing border surveillance radars. Eljorfi explained he
did a simple search on the Internet for distributors of
suitable systems, which led to his association with
Telephonics.
3. (SBU) In a March 2008 meeting with U.S. Ambassador Riley,
Lt Gen Abdelaziz Bennani, Inspector General of the Royal
Moroccan Armed Forces, mentioned these radars and asked for
USG assistance in facilitating their delivery. Post has no
doubt the Moroccan military ordered them from Telephonics or
that TCSM is the bona fide local agent for Telephonics in
Morocco.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR PM/DTCC BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AND NEA/MAG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC MO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 05-050096158
REF: SECSTATE 50430
1. (SBU) Post validates the bona fides of application
05-050096158 and asses the information conveyed reftel as
accurate. On May 16, Econoff visited Technical Communication
Solutions Maroc (TCSM) and met with its Director, Ahmed
Eljorfi. TCSM is a small consulting business, with an office
in the industrial zone of Temara. Eljorfi was able to speak
about the sale, intended use, and export license application
for 12 x Advanced Radar Surveillance Systems (ARSS-1),and
produced operating and maintenance manuals for the equipment.
He produced his file of the transaction that included a
signed purchase order between the Chief of the Procurement
Division, National Defense Administration (MOD) and
Telephonics Corp, signed January 9, 2008. Eljorfi explained
his (TCSM) role in the transaction as a consultant and
facilitator, who was first approached by Colonel Major
Boujemaa Bouraada, Inspector of Transmission (Signal Corps)
in 2007.
2. (SBU) Eljorfi is a retired Royal Moroccan Air Force
(RMAF) avionics and radar officer/technician. He attended
technical training with the U.S. Air Force at Chanute AFB, IL
in 1977, and at McClellan AFB, CA in 1983. He retired from
the RMAF in 1992 and worked for Harris Corp. until starting
his own consulting firm in 1999. His firm specializes in
security and surveillance equipment. He explained that the
12 ARSS-1 radars are ground surveillance systems that will be
used by Moroccan border security forces to detect illegal
immigrants and unauthorized transit along Morocco's borders.
He said TCSM would never take possession of the equipment,
but that it would instead go directly to the Direction of
Reception and Transit in Casablanca (a military storage and
reception facility) before being deployed to the field.
Eljorfi explained that his role was to act as Telephonics
(Griffon Corporation's electronic and communication systems
subsidiary) intermediary in Morocco, and to provide
instruction to the Moroccan military on its operation and
maintenance. When asked how he became involved with
Telephonics, Eljorfi said he was first approached by the
Signal Corps in February 2007, who was interested in
purchasing border surveillance radars. Eljorfi explained he
did a simple search on the Internet for distributors of
suitable systems, which led to his association with
Telephonics.
3. (SBU) In a March 2008 meeting with U.S. Ambassador Riley,
Lt Gen Abdelaziz Bennani, Inspector General of the Royal
Moroccan Armed Forces, mentioned these radars and asked for
USG assistance in facilitating their delivery. Post has no
doubt the Moroccan military ordered them from Telephonics or
that TCSM is the bona fide local agent for Telephonics in
Morocco.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
Riley