Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Pre-License End-Use Check On

VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0095 0291123
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291123Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0126
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000095

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
US SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC AR
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON
APPLICATION 05-0047619 IN ARGENTINA

REF: 07 STATE 161127

1. (SBU) Per Reftel request, post carried out a pre-license
check on Aerospacio SRL, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on
January 9. It is Post's opinion that the company will be a
responsible recipient of United States Munitions List items.

2. (SBU) A site visit by Blue Lantern Officer and inquiries
with the Ministry of Defense by Post's MilGroup yielded
positive feedback about prospective USML items importer
Aerospacio SRL in Buenos Aires. Most importantly, a known
contact of the MilGroup in the Estado Mayor (the final
foreign end-user of the shipment) confirmed the intended
purchase, and that it had been arranged through Aerospacio
via public tender.

3. (SBU) Company owner Mario Guevara (who said he was an
ex-Argentine Army aviator, retired as a captain) stated that
he has been contracted by the Argentine military on other
occasions, and provided paperwork to support the claim. Some
of his other company names are Helitecno and Alhos SA. He
stated that he was been providing goods to the Argentine
military -- Army, Air Force, Ministry of Defense, as well as
the Prefectura (Coast Guard-equivalent) and Federal Police --
since 1984, such as Sikorsky helicopters by Alhos when it was
the official Sikorsky representative in Argentina. He uses
different business names depending on products, and also to
avoid the stigma of having provided services to the GoA under
the Menem Administration, which might be perceived negatively
by current procurement officials. He also stated that
Aerospacio was only a middleman in the purchase, had not
offered any maintenance service, and that his firm would
never have physical possession of the goods at any time,
which were intended as spare parts for helicopters involved
in Argentina's Antarctic operations.
WAYNE

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