BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON

UNCLAS RABAT 000446 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE 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: STATE 050430 ¶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) Eljori 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. Eljori 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, Eljori said he was first approached by the Signal Corps in February 2007, who was interested in purchasing border surveillance radars. Eljori 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 (CHOD),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