BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES FOR BROKER

UNCLAS CAIRO 002257 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETTC MASS EG SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES FOR BROKER SHERIF M.A. EL-SAID - CASE NO. K-2001 REF: STATE 99501 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel request, Pol Off met with registered broker El Sayed Safwat Saleh at the offices of the Arab Trading International Company. The firm's General Manager, Osama Fathy, was also present. Saleh confirmed that he was authorized by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense to conduct brokering activities in Egypt. The Arab Trading International Company provides consulting services only for sensitive items, so the firm does not physically handle or store any items on the United States Munitions List on behalf of its clients. The company was established 12 years ago. In addition to Saleh and Fathy, the only additional partner is Sahar Shaheen. Besides the partners, the firm employs six other people. The firm's only customers are located in Egypt and are predominantly military organizations or petroleum companies. Both Saleh and Fathy are retired military officers. ¶2. (SBU) Saleh explained that the firm focuses on three main areas: 1) consulting services for military factories, 2) spare parts for oil servicing companies, and 3) spare parts for factories. Saleh said he was asked to register as a broker by L3, who Arab Trading International Company is consulting for on a proposed overall of M60A3 tank engines that would be financed through the Foreign Military Financing program. Tueller