RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE

UNCLAS BAKU 000199 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, PM/DTCC (BLUE LANTERN COORD) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC AJ IS SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON APPLICATION 050139416 REF: A. STATE 5792 ¶B. TEL AVIV 407 In accordance with Reftel A instructions, Embassy Army Attache obtained the following information from General-Major Ramiz Najafov, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and Euro-Atlantic Integration at the Azerbaijan MOD: - The exact type and quantity of USML items cited in Ref A are correct, and there is no reason to believe their end use will anything besides the purpose stated in Reftel A. However, Gen. Najafov verbally confirmed the transaction but refused to disclose documentation of the purchase, arguing that since the purchase is from an Israeli rather than a U.S. source there is no obligation for him to disclose any details to the USG, despite extensive and repeated explanations of the U.S. nexus in the transaction and the legal basis and rationale for pre-license checks. - Embassy acquired no information to contradict Reftel B on other questions relating to the business relationship between Elbit systems and the Azerbaijan MOD. DERSE