BELGIUM: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY - CASE NO.

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001352 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE AND PM/DTCC: RJOUBERT-LIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY - CASE NO. K-2261 - (ROBBERECHTS, WIM) REF: STATE 94245 ¶1. As requested reftel, Poloff and Polintern made a site visit to Wim Robberechts & Co., NV (hereinafter "Robberechts") on October 1 in Diegem, Belgium in order to assess its business operations, on-site security, and reliability as a broker/recipient of United States Munitions List (USML) items. ¶2. Poloff and Polintern learned that Robberechts is a company which operates still, movie and video cameras for producers of photographs and films. They met with Kris De Maeseneer, Acting CEO of Wim Robberechts & Co. and confirmed that the company had a general business license issued in Belgium. De Maeseneer said that the company does not possess a special licensing to operate as a broker of defense materials in Belgium, but that none is required. He said that Robberechts, has been in operation since 1984, and has specialized in aerial filming since 1996. It has been has been working with the American company AXSYS Technologies, which manufactures aerial cameras since 2005. From 1996 to 2005, Robberechts contracted with the Canadian company, West Cam, for the same materials. The gyroscopes inside the camera are considered military equipment. Robberechts clients rent the cameras from the company, and Robberechts employees operate the cameras for aerial filming services. The cameras are not used for military purposes. Robberechts rigs the cameras onto helicopters to film different events, such as car and bicycle races. Robberechts rents helicopters in their clients' country and does not store helicopters. De Maeseneer noted that there is always someone from AXSYS Technologies present to supervise the rigging of the camera system to the helicopter. ¶3. Robberechts owns four cameras stored in one location in Diegem, Belgium, which Poloff and Polintern visited. Each system is valued in US dollars at $600,000. De Maeseneer said that Robberechts sold one older Canadian system to Luxembourg last year. De Maeseneer confirmed that the company has no other places of business, aside from the Diegem address. ¶4. De Maeseneer reported filming around the world, predominantly in the countries of Australia, Western Europe, and Canada. He said that the company clientale includes mostly television stations and broadcasting networks in these places, particularly those related to sports. ¶5. Poloff and Polintern were escorted downstairs by Mr. De Maeseneer and shown the room where the cameras were stored. In the larger part of the space, before the entrance into the room, there was a small helicopter hanging from the ceiling donated by the Belgian military. De Maeseneer explicitly stated that Robberechts does not use the defense materials they possess for military related purposes. Poloff and Polintern were brought into the room were the cameras were stored. It was a room with normal locks, and regular security. The exterior doors of the building had normal locks as well. Poloff and Polintern were shown framed photos of aerial photography which represented some ofRobberrechts portfilio. ¶6. De Maeseneer said that he was familiar with the restrictions on USML materials, especially the prohibition against unauthorized transfers and reexports. 7.Post has confirmed that Robberechts does not have a license to engage in brokering activities in Belgium. Post has not yet determined whether a special license is needed to broker USML materials in Belgium. GUTMAN .