BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE/PRE-SHIPMENT

UNCLAS STATE 075947 SIPDIS TBILISI FOR NICOLE O'BRIEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC GG SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-LICENSE/PRE-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSES 050139003 AND 050168499 ¶1. This is an Action Request. See paragraphs 2 - 4. ¶2. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests Post's assistance in conducting a post-license/pre-shipment check on licenses 050139003 and 050168499 for the export of firearms and ammunition to Georgia. Post is requested to complete this Blue Lantern check within 30 days. Lack of response to a Blue Lantern check will affect pending and future licenses involving parties to this license. ¶3. Reason for Request: These licenses approve the export of firearms and ammunition for commercial resale in Georgia. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) has concerns about the commercial resale of firearms in Georgia due to political conditions and the potential for nonstate actors to use force to undermine the democratically elected government. In addition, the import authorization supporting license 050168499 appears to date back to 2006. This check is to establish the bona fides of the end-user and seek guidance from Post on firearms exports to Georgia. ¶4. Action Request: Post is requested to establish the bona fides of end-user Kula LTD by making inquiries to representatives of the company and appropriate authorities of the Government of Georgia. The following points are included for guidance: (To Kula LTD) --When was your company established and who are its principals? --What products and services does your company provide? Who are your regular customers and where do they reside? --What are you annual sales of U.S.-origin firearms? --Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export? (To Import/Export Authorities) --Is Kula LTD properly authorized to import and sell defense articles in Georgia? --Is Import Authorization No. 4/476 issued by the Permanent Committee for Military-Technical Issues signed by D. Kezerashvili dated 13/11/2006 still valid? --Do you have any information on Kula LTD that would question their reliability as a recipient of U.S. defense articles? In its reply, Post is requested to provide guidance on firearms exports to Georgia for commercial resale in light of the current political climate. Post is also encouraged to comment on any information pertinent to this transaction such as security of facilities, end-use, and concerns about the entities involved. ¶5. Details of license applications: ¶A. DTC Case: 050139003 QUANTITY/COMMODITY: 10 Mossberg 100ATR Bolt Action Rifles, .308WIN Caliber 10 Mossberg 100ATR Bolt Action Rifles, .30-06WIN Caliber 35 Mossberg 702 Plinkster Rifles, .22LR Caliber 10 Mossberg 802 Plinkster Rifles, .22LR Caliber License Value: USD $10,313 SELLER: Lou's Police & Distributors 7815 West 4 Avenue Hialeah, FL 33014 FOREIGN END-USER: Kula LTD 55 Tbilisi Street St. Georgia / Gori, Georgia Tel: (995 370) 7-04-09 / (995 32) 38-17-33 / (995 370) 7-47-41 Email: kulaarms@gmail.com PURPOSE: For commercial resale in Georgia ¶B. DTC Case: 050168499 QUANTITY/COMMODITY: 268 Firearms (Various - See faxed list) 90,000 Rounds of Ammunition (Various - See faxed list) License Value: USD $87,137 SELLER: Valor Corporation of Florida 1001 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway Sunrise, FL 33323 FOREIGN END-USER: Kula LTD 55 Tbilisi Street Gori, Georgia Tel: (995 370) 7-04-09 / (995 32) 38-17-33 / (995 370) 7-47-41 Email: kulaarms@gmail.com PURPOSE: For commercial resale in Georgia ¶6. Submitted in support of the license application were the following documents (PM/DTCC will fax documentation to Posts upon request): ¶A. DSP-83 signed by Linda Riccobono (Lou's Police) dated 12/17/2008 and Ivane Goglidze dated 13/06/2008 Import Authorization No. 1/215 issued by the Permanent Committee for Military-Technical Issues signed by D. Kezerashvili dated 22/04/2008 End-User Certificate No. 1/219 signed by D. Kezerashvili dated 22/04/2008 Purchase Order No. 4/9-209 from Kula LTD signed by Ivane Goglidze dated 02/04/2008 ¶B. DSP-83 signed by Harry Lopez (Valor) dated 28/04/2009 and Ivane Goglidze not dated Import Authorization No. 4/476 issued by the Permanent Committee for Military-Technical Issues signed by D. Kezerashvili dated 13/11/2006 End-User Certificate No. 4/502 signed by M. Mujiri dated 21/11/2006 Purchase Order No. 409/09 from Kula LTD signed by Ivane Goglidze dated 16/06/2009 ¶7. Please slug reply for PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR and include the words "Blue Lantern" and the case number in the subject line. POC is Kyle M. Ballard, Phone: 202-663-1929; Email: BallardKM@state.gov; SIPRNET: BallardKM@state.sgov.gov. The Blue Lantern Guidebook (ref) is available as a PDF file on Intellipedia: http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/ Blue Lantern End-Use Monitoring Program ¶8. Department is grateful for Post's assistance in this matter. CLINTON