US embassy cable - 04SANAA1968

UNCLAS SANAA 001968 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC, KOMC 
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN REPORT 05-929192 
 
REF: SECSTATE 134576 
 
1. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls 
Compliance requested Post assistance with Blue Lantern case 
05-929192, a check on Aston Aviation and its C-130 parts 
transaction with the Yemen Air Force, Ref.  Brigadier General 
Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar, the Commander of the Yemen Air 
Force, and Ahmed Hadi al-Sheani, Managing Director of the 
Office of the Yemen Air Force Commander responded to Post's 
query. (Paragraph 3.) 
 
2. The Yemen Air Force confirmed that they placed the order 
outlined in Reftel to Aston Aviation, but could not present a 
purchase or a contract with Aston Aviation to substantiate 
that it is the end user of the C-130 parts.  Al-Sheani did 
attest, however, to a five-year business relationship with 
Aston Aviation, and described the company as reliable and 
reputable. 
 
3.  Below is the July 5 transcript of the fax from the Air 
Force Commander Al-Ahmar.  He confirmed the Air Force order 
and receipt of two of the four parts listed in Ref: 
 
Begin text: 
 
In reply to your letter dated 28/06/2004 regarding inquiry 
about the proposal No. (0845/PO/04) offered by ASTON company 
which has been signed on 19/05/2004. 
 
Therefore, we inform you that those goods are included in the 
order presented by Y.A.F. and A.D. under the Contract No. 
(P/2003-10-13-5214) dated 5112/2003 (sic) Two parts have been 
delivered up to now and the others are under way. 
 
With best wishes, 
Brig. Gen Mohammed Sahleh al-Ahmar 
Yemen AF and AD Commander 
 
End text. 
KRAJESKI