POST RESPONSE: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000053 NOFORN SIPDIS PM/DTCC KYLE BALLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2020 TAGS: BU ETTC KOMC NO SUBJECT: POST RESPONSE: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050202164 REF: A. E-MAIL BALLARD - MCKERNAN DATED JANUARY 25 ¶B. 09 SECSTATE 121806 ¶C. 09 OSLO 595 Classified By: Acting Political Economic Counselor Aldo Sirotic for rea sons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) MFA Advisor Christoffer Aas Pedersen confirmed to PolOff January 28 that the MFA would not object if the USG informed U.S. applicants that Reidar Ostby's name must be removed from export licenses that list him as a foreign intermediate consignee. ¶2. (C) MFA Deputy Director for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Bjorn Midthun told PolOff January 20 that the GoN initiated in early January an investigation into Norwegian citizen Reidar Ostby, led by the Norwegian police. He explained that although the MFA had previously told PolOff the investigation would begin last September (ref C),the GoN had waited until the second time we contacted them in early December (ref B) and then waited until after the holidays to request a police investigation. Midthun explained that investigating an individual was "serious business," and the MFA has not wanted to be premature in approaching the police in regards to Ostby's activities. Ostby is an official sales representative in Europe for Remington Arms Company, but is not licensed by the GoN to export, import, or broker firearms. ¶2. (SBU) PolOff explained to Midthun January 20 that several export licenses which listed Ostby as the foreign intermediate consignee were now on hold, pending the GoN investigation. PolOff recommended to Midthun January 22 that for the export licenses to move forward the best course of action would be to remove Ostby from the licenses, disallowing the U.S. applicant from employing his services. WHITE