US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA721

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MASS, ECON, PGOV, PINR, PREL, LO 
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE REQUESTED ON POSSIBLE SLOVAK ARMS SALES 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (U) This is a guidance request, please see para 2. 
 
2. (S) Peter Peniaska, head of the Slovak arms firm Petina 
International, is seeking the USG position on potential sales 
of Slovak military equipment to Cameroon and the Democratic 
Republic of Congo.  The company has applied for a license 
with the Ministry of Economy (MOE) and has requested a 
decision before 12 September. Post requests guidance and 
information on any objections the USG would have to the 
transactions.  We will share the information not with 
Peniaska, but with the licensing offices in the MFA and MOE. 
 
3. (S)  Petina Intentional would like to export the following 
military items: 
- 144  T-72 Tanks 
-  50  BVP-1 Infantry Fight Vehicles 
-  25  Mortars 120 mm 
- 3000 Mortar rounds 120 mm 
- Ammunition 14.5 mm, 12.7 mm 7.62x39, and 7.62x54 
 
4. (S) The license for weapons export would be valid for one 
year.  The amount of the sale is an estimated at 500 million 
SK (approximately 16.3 million USD).  The materials would be 
transported through Poland by rail and then to the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo or Cameroon from a Polish port. 
 
5. (S) Comment:  Peniaska has approached the embassy before 
on a number of occasions about possible arms sales in 
conflict zones.  He and his associates have told emboffs that 
an informal agreement exists with the GOS that the U.S. 
embassy should vet sales to these areas.  However, emboffs 
opine that silence or a nod of approval from the U.S. would 
be used as leverage with the GOS to obtain an otherwise shady 
export license. 
VALLEE 
 
 
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