Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre-License Check: Moscow

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #4555 2601053
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171053Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3885
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MOSCOW 004555

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/DMUSLU
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: MOSCOW
RAILWAYS, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. D382505

REFTEL: USDOC 08142

1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided
below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export
Administration Act.

2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine
the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, Moscow
Railways, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS
license application D382505 as the ultimate consignee
of a photon camera. These items are controlled for
national security and nuclear non-proliferation
reasons under ECCN 6A003. The licensee is Indigo
Systems Corporation, 70 Castilian Dr., Goleta, CA
93117.

3. On September 13, 2007, Export Control Attache
Donald Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the
requested pre-license check at the offices of Moscow
Railway (MR), 20, Krasnoprudnaya st., Moscow, Russia.
The export control team met with Aleksandr Vasilego,
Chief Engineer, Cargo Service of Moscow Railway.

4. MR was founded in the 1880s to provide rail service
between Moscow and cities in the Central Region of
Russia. In 1957 the railroad companies were
consolidated, and today MR is one of seventeen
railroad companies under the Russian Railroads system
(Russian abbreviation RZhD). MR carries the largest
amount of passengers of the RZhD system and is the
fourth largest cargo rail line, equivalent in size to
U.S. railway company CSX. MR has 500 passenger and
cargo stations and terminals, and employs over
130,000.

5. The Cargo Services branch operates two cargo hub
stations, located in suburban Moscow and in the town
of Ryazan, 196 km to the southeast of Moscow. Mr.
Vasilego states that MR has ordered two cameras.
NOTE: Reftel indicates an application for three
cameras. Mr. Vasilego stated that, depending on
performance and funding he may order more cameras for
use in other cargo terminals, but currently MR will
only purchase two imagers. END NOTE.

6. The thermal imagers in reftel will be used in the
cargo sorting stations, affixed permanently in the
central area of the rail yard, to examine unladed
cars. These examinations are conducted to ensure that
commodities such as cement, flour, or other powders or
granular substances have been completely off-loaded.
Residual powders left in the cars can present a
hazard, and the thermal imagers will make inspection
of the cars more efficient and accurate. Specialists
from Alfa Pribor, the intermediate consignee, will
install and maintain the camera system. A total of
eight specialists at each station will have access to
the system, which will be employed around the clock.

7. A specialized Railroad Police unit of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs (Russian abbreviation MVD)
Militsia provides security at MR facilities around the
clock. NOTE: MVD Militsia are the primary local law
enforcement units in the Russian Federation. END
NOTE. In addition to regular patrols, the stations
are monitored by closed-circuit television. An
additional layer of protection will come from the
specialists themselves, as the units will be utilized
around the clock. Should a camera go off-line, the
operator will be able to visually verify that the
camera is still in place.

5. Recommendations: Post recommends Moscow Railway,
Moscow, Russia, as reliable recipients of sensitive
U.S. origin commodities. It is requested that post be
notified of final disposition of the application, and
of any shipments for this organization in order to
conduct appropriate FCS follow-up and statistical
reporting.
(FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE)
BURNS

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