BELGIUM: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3:

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001632 SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE AND PM/DTCC: BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE/PRE-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050198861: OLIVIER ROBERT REF: SECSTATE 121071 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel request to establish the bona fides of end-user Olivier Robert, PolEcon Intern telephoned Robert on November 30, 2009. PolEcon Intern was told by Robert that Robert does not plan to sell any of the firearms purchased pursuant to the license in question and that he is a personal collector of firearms. Robert said that he does not sell any of the firearm he purchases in or outside of Belgium and has not re-sold or re-exported any of the firearms previously imported by him from the United States. Mr. Robert said that as a firearm collector he is building a gun museum in his home. ¶2. (SBU) Robert said that the twenty-eight firearms he is seeking to purchase are all exclusively for personal use, as indicated on the license. Robert owns ninety-five firearms in his personal collection, imported from the United States, Canada, UK, and Germany. He houses the firearms in his home in a safe room. He said that he is licensed for importation of weapons into Belgium and that he is familiar with the regulations governing U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on unauthorized re-transfer or re-export. Robert said that he is waiting for ETSS to provide an export license to him to receive items exported from the United States. He requested that the shipment of twenty-eight arms be sent in one shipment due to the high cost of shipping. ¶3. (SBU) PolEcon Intern also contacted Filip Ide, Director for Arms Exports & Trade at the Belgian Federal Ministry of Justice to verify that Robert is authorized to import and own firearms in Belgium. PolEcon Intern was informed by Ide that Robert is a registered arms collector in Belgium. Ide said that Mr. Robert has the right to buy and import firearms that fit into the theme of his collection. He said that arms collectors are not allowed to sell firearms in Belgium for commercial purposes. He said that since Mr. Robert maintains a license to collect firearms, he should not pose any problems of concern to the USG. Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Post concludes that Robert does not intend to use his firearms for military or defense purposes, nor is he interested in re-exporting or selling them. Post has established that Robert is a registered personal collector of firearms in the country of Belgium, and is satisfied that he is solely interested in adding to his personal gun collection through the purchase of firearms from the United States. GUTMAN .