TERRORIST FINANCE - OTTAWA: CANADIAN INTEREST IN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001703

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS (MBRUNO),S/CT (TKUSHNER),IO/PHO
(BFITZGERALD),AND WHA/CAN
TREASURY (JZARATE),AND OFAC (RWERNER)
NSC (KEMERSON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2015
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER CVIS KVPR KTFN CA
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE - OTTAWA: CANADIAN INTEREST IN
LISTING HIG

REF: A. STATE 98286

B. OTTAWA 1493

Classified By: Wendy Moore, Economics Counselor, Ottawa. Reason: 1.4(
e).


1. (S) This is an urgent action request. See para 4.


2. (S) On June 6, Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) provided post
with their analysis of listing HIG under Canada's criminal
code. (Hekmatyar, as an individual, and MEK, were recently
added to Canada's criminal code, but the GOC held HIG for
further consideration.) The points below (para 3) will be
presented at a Deputy Ministers' meeting on the topic
tomorrow, June 7. The Canadian embassy in Kabul arranged a
meeting with other embassies on June 1 to discuss listing
HIG. That meeting, along with discussions with Afghan FM
Abdullah in Ottawa on June 1 and our feedback in ref A,
contributed to Foreign Affairs Canada's position. Although,
as explained below, FAC is leaning towards a listing along
the lines of "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction" rather than
HIG, they do not know if other agencies will agree to
restrict the listing as the Statement of Case was written for
HIG overall.


3. Begin text:

(S) Criminal Code listing
"Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin"

-- FAC agrees that the group directly associated with
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar should be listed under the Criminal Code.

-- Based on this and the decision taken at the last meeting
of Deputy Ministers on this issue, we have conducted
consultations with our allies both in capitals and in Kabul.

-- While all those consulted support action being taken
against those directly associated with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar,
concerns were expressed with respect to the appellation of
the group.

-- During his visit to Ottawa on June 1, and when asked,
Afghan FM Abdullah cautioned that the designation of "Hezb-e
Islami Gulbuddin" could cast the net too widely. He further
indicated that the formulation might be ambiguous and
suggested "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction" as a possibility.
He emphasized the importance of using a qualifying term like
"faction", in recognition of the fact that Hezb-e Islami has
various factions with different leadership.

-- Abdullah encouraged Canada not/not to take immediate
action and suggested further consultations in Kabul with the
GoA, on the possible negative implications of listing.

-- We will have the opportunity to consult with FM Abdullah
again early next week in The Hague and will use the occasion
to seek Afghan views on the most appropriate appellation.

-- Since Canada will be taking the lead among allies, it is
imperative that we get the name right. While certain
formulations might be appropriate in intelligence circles, we
must chose the name that is most accurate and understandable.

-- Sensitivity with listing HIG has also been flagged by the
US, who expressed concern about possible negative
implications on the ongoing reconciliation process in
Afghanistan.

-- While the reconciliation process has not been formally
announced, our understanding is that it has been designed to
reintegrate members of both the Taliban and HIG into their
communities. The process is being administered by the
Afghans with significant US involvement.

-- Afghan Parliamentary and provincial elections are
scheduled to be held on September 18, 2005. The Afghans have
adopted the single non-transferable vote system, which means
that people will be voting for individual candidates and not
parties. We must bear in mind the fact that those associated
with Hezb-e Islami will be running in the election and
indeed, as FM Abdullah noted, are already represented in the
government. We want to ensure that the appellation does not
capture those unintended.

-- FAC will work with PSEPC and CSIS (Note: Public Safety
and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service. End note),and approach the US and the
Afghan Foreign Minister Adbullah early next week in advance
of the Deputy Ministers' meeting to seek views on the most
appropriate appellation to attain our listing objective while
not unintendedly casting the net too widely, e.g., "Hezb-e
Islami Hekmatyar faction".

FAC/3 June 2005

End GOC text


4. (S) Action request: The approaches to the US and Afghan
FM Abdullah mentioned above are taking place today, via this
message and in The Hague. Foreign Affairs Canada would like
to know if the USG would have any problem with a GOC decision
to designate HIG. If so, could we support designation of an
alternative such as "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction?" GOC
ministers will meet to decide on the HIG designation on
Tuesday, June 14, so any USG response should be conveyed by
OOB Friday, June 10 in order for Foreign Affairs staff to
incorporate our views into briefing papers.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

DICKSON