VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBS #1352 2801325
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071325Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9535
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001352 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND PM/DTCC: RJOUBERT-LIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KOMC BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: BLUE LANTERN BROKER INQUIRY - CASE NO. 
K-2261 - (ROBBERECHTS, WIM) 
 
REF: STATE 94245 
 
¶1. As requested reftel, Poloff and Polintern made a site 
visit to Wim Robberechts & Co., NV (hereinafter 
"Robberechts") on October 1 in Diegem, Belgium in order to 
assess its business operations, on-site security, and 
reliability as a broker/recipient of United States Munitions 
List (USML) items. 
 
¶2. Poloff and Polintern learned that Robberechts is a company 
which operates still, movie and video cameras for producers 
of photographs and films.  They met with Kris De Maeseneer, 
Acting CEO of Wim Robberechts & Co. and confirmed that the 
company had a general business license issued in Belgium.  De 
Maeseneer said that the company does not possess a special 
licensing to operate as a broker of defense materials in 
Belgium, but that none is required.  He said that 
Robberechts, has been in operation since 1984, and has 
specialized in aerial filming since 1996.  It has been has 
been working with the American company AXSYS Technologies, 
which manufactures aerial cameras since 2005.  From 1996 to 
2005, Robberechts contracted with the Canadian company, West 
Cam, for the same materials.  The gyroscopes inside the 
camera are considered military equipment.  Robberechts 
clients rent the cameras from the company, and Robberechts 
employees operate the cameras for aerial filming services. 
The cameras are not used for military purposes.  Robberechts 
rigs the cameras onto helicopters to film different events, 
such as car and bicycle races.  Robberechts rents helicopters 
in their clients' country and does not store helicopters.  De 
Maeseneer noted that there is always someone from AXSYS 
Technologies present to supervise the rigging of the camera 
system to the helicopter. 
 
¶3. Robberechts owns four cameras stored in one location in 
Diegem, Belgium, which Poloff and Polintern visited.  Each 
system is valued in US dollars at $600,000.  De Maeseneer 
said that Robberechts sold one older Canadian system to 
Luxembourg last year.  De Maeseneer confirmed that the 
company has no other places of business, aside from the 
Diegem address. 
 
¶4. De Maeseneer reported filming around the world, 
predominantly in the countries of Australia, Western Europe, 
and Canada.  He said that the company clientale includes 
mostly television stations and broadcasting networks in these 
places, particularly those related to sports. 
 
¶5. Poloff and Polintern were escorted downstairs by Mr. De 
Maeseneer and shown the  room where the cameras were stored. 
In the larger part of the space, before the entrance into the 
room, there was a small helicopter hanging from the ceiling 
donated by the Belgian military.  De Maeseneer explicitly 
stated that Robberechts does not use the defense materials 
they possess for military related purposes.  Poloff and 
Polintern were brought into the room were the cameras were 
stored.  It was a room with normal locks, and regular 
security.  The exterior doors of the building had normal 
locks as well.  Poloff and Polintern were shown framed photos 
of aerial photography which represented some ofRobberrechts 
portfilio. 
 
¶6. De Maeseneer said that he was familiar with the 
restrictions on USML materials, especially the prohibition 
against unauthorized transfers and reexports. 
 
7.Post has confirmed that Robberechts does not have a license 
to engage in brokering activities in Belgium.  Post has not 
yet determined whether a special license is needed to broker 
USML materials in Belgium. 
 
GUTMAN 
.