VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBM #0785/01 3280839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240839Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0103
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000785
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/DTCC RACHAEL-THERESE S. JOUBERT-LIN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC RO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY: STEFAN MINOVICI - CASE NO.
K-2197
REF: SECSTATE 00099581
1. (U) This message is a response to reftel request to verify the
bona fides of registered broker Stefan Minovici - Case No. K-2197.
2. (SBU) POLOFF raised subject company, MIC & ASSOCIATES GRUP SRL,
with Romanian authorities, including the National Export Control
Agency (ANCEX) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has the
primary government oversight for licensing imports and exports of
U.S. Munitions List (USML) items. POLOFF also interviewed principal
officer Stefan Minovici and former MIC & ASSOCIATES principal
officer Raluca Maftei, in an effort to verify bona fides of subject
company. ANCEX official Gicu Pop indicated that subject company is
not registered to act as an importer, exporter or broker of defense
items in Romania. Pop further relayed that ANCEX has no record of
subject company requesting authorization and licensing for trade
operations with military items.
3. (SBU) During the telephone interview, Minovici claimed that he
was unaware of the ANCEX licensing requirement, largely because he
believed the major business that subject company conducts in Romania
on behalf of Raytheon and ITT Defense was not under the authority of
ANCEX. Subject company was not aware of the requirement until
raised by post and subject company is currently in collaboration
with post to prepare and submit an application to ANCEX in order to
become compliant. Subject company will ensure that appropriate
authorization and licenses are in place before conducting any future
business in Romania.
4. (SBU) The following responds to questions raised in reftel:
-- Confirm that this entity is in the business of brokering
defense articles and defense services at the location(s)
indicated under its legal name(s);
ANSWER: Subject company has a physical office located at Calea
Floreasca 91-111, Bucharest, Romania. Principal officer Stefan
Minovici confirmed that subject company is in the business of
brokering defense articles and defense services at the location
under its legal name. However, ANCEX has no record of subject
company requesting authorization and licensing for trade operations
with military items.
-- Determine whether this entity is authorized to conduct
such activities in its home country, whether the entity has
any criminal or other derogatory background, and whether Post
has any information on its brokering or arms export
activities that may involve proscribed entities such as
countries under U.S. or international sanctions, or
designated state sponsors of terrorism;
ANSWER: ANCEX has no record of subject company requesting
authorization and licensing for trade operations with military
items. Post did not discover any evidence of a criminal or
derogatory background; similarly there were no indications that
subject company conducted brokering or arms export activities with
entities such as countries under U.S. or international sanctions or
designated state sponsors of terrorism.
-- Will the brokering firm be handling or storing USML items
on behalf of its clients? If so, does it have secure
facilities and proper accounting and security procedures for
handling sensitive USML items?
ANSWER: No.
-- When was the company established and who are its
principals? How many employees?
ANSWER: Website indicates that subject company was established in
1997, however, according to documentation provided by Principal
Stefan Minovici, subject company was registered in Bucharest,
Romania, beginning on 1 October 2005 as a Defense, National
Security, and Marketing firm. Subject company has three employees:
Stefan Minovici, Tatiana Tanase, and Constantin Degeratu (as of 1
December 2009). Principal officers are Minovici and Degeratu.
-- What is the nature of its business and what other types of
items does it handle?
ANSWER: Subject company is primarily focused on defense, national
security, country promotion, marketing, and trade. Subject company
works with foreign governments, most recently to include the
governments of Slovenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Kazakhstan to promote
the respective nation's image and trade. In addition to defense and
national security advising, subject company is involved in the
energy and infrastructure industries.
-- What types of organizations are among its typical clients
and in what countries are they located?
ANSWER: Website information lists a robust client list of both
domestic and international clients. Listed clients were from
Romania, Mexico, Moldova, Ukraine, and Slovenia. Website indicates
having office locations in the United States, Romania, Italy, and
Ukraine. Principal Stefan Minovice provided documentation
establishing his client relationships with U.S. corporations
Raytheon and ITT Defense, including a copy of a check paid to
subject company for brokering services by Raytheon.
-- Does the company understand the restrictions on USML
items, especially the prohibition against unauthorized
re-transfers and re-exports?
ANSWER: Yes, but Principal Stefan Minovici indicated that subject
firm does not generally deal with USML equipment; principal further
assured that if business did begin to include USML materials,
principal would seek embassy guidance on any issues that the firm
was unsure about.
5. (U) Blue Lantern POC is Political Military Officer Timothy
Peltier. Contact information: 40 (21) 200-3425;
PeltierTE@state.gov (unclass); PeltierTE@state.sgov.gov (class).
Alternate POC for questions related to above report is Political
Officer Mark Oliver. Contact information: 40 (21) 200-3435;
OliverMJ@state.gov (unclass); OliverMJ@state.sgov.gov (class).
GITENSTEIN