TERRORISM FINANCE: ITALIAN NAMES AND INFORMATION

S E C R E T ROME 003781 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS:DBROWN, S/CT:TKUSHNER, IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD, EUR/PGI:LREASOR, EUR/ERA:KSHEARER, EUR/WE:AYOUNG NSC FOR JZARATE TREASURY FOR ASZUBIN, DGLASER OFAC FOR RWERNER, PLURIE, JYANG DOJ FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2015 TAGS: EFIN IT KTFN PGOV PREL PTER ANTITERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: ITALIAN NAMES AND INFORMATION REQUEST ON NASREDDIN REF: A. STATE 204986 ¶B. ROME 3479 ¶C. STATE 141748 ¶D. ROME 2377 Classified By: DCM ANNA BORG BASED ON E.O.12958 REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) INTRODUCTION -------------- ¶1. (S/NF) This message provides Embassy Rome's reply to the NSC request for Italian names (Ref A),including radical Milan-based clerics, such as Abu Amad. We should note that we would likely enhance cooperation with key Italian officials if we could provide Milan prosecutor with information linking Ahmed Idris Nasreddin to terrorism finance (TF). EMBASSY ROME SUPPORTS DESIGNATION, WITH AN IMPORTANT CAVEATS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Embassy Rome fully supports the designation under UNSC 1617 of individuals deported from Italy under its new terrorism laws, such as Bouchta Bouriki, Moroccan, deported in September 2005 -- assuming a case of legal sufficiency can be made. Giuseppe Maresca, Finance Ministry Director for the Office for Financial Crimes, told A/ECMIN and A/ECOUNS that Italy would not object to designating deportees tied to terrorism; however, he said Italy is not/not considering submitting their names for designation at this time. ¶3. (S/NF) As a first proviso, Embassy Rome supports designation of Milan-based extremists, such as Abu Imad, if the Embassy can first approach, and receive assurances from, the Italian Financial Security Committee (FSC) that the designation would not disrupt an active investigation. The FSC would pass our request ultimately to the Milan magistrate investing terrorism cases (Magistrate Luigi Orsi). ¶4. (S/NF) As a second proviso, prior to taking the case of any Milan-based cleric to the UNSC, the Embassy would also strongly urge Washington agencies to respond first to the unanswered request by the Milan prosecutor's office, transmitted in July, for information (Ref. C, D). THE ITALIAN CASE AGAINST NASREDDIN LACKS EVIDENCE. -------------- -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) Separately, on the designation of Nasreddin, Milan magistrate Orsi, also investigating Nasreddin's ties to terrorism finance, has indicated that Italian-sourced information would not support a case against Nasreddin. The Head of Italy's Financial Security Committee, Finance Ministry DG Vittorio Grilli, requested unofficially during a September 28 conversation with Treasury U/S Levey that the USG provide any derogatory information applicable for use in an Italian legal proceeding linking Nasreddin to financing terrorism (Ref B). Working-level Finance Ministry contacts had previously made the same request (Ref D). ¶6. (S/NF) Since Magistrate Orsi will also be the person who responds to the Financial Security Committee's query on our behalf (para. 3 above) about whether a proposed U.S. designation would interfere with an ongoing investigation, it would be in our own interest to be more responsive to his request for more information (para. 4 above). SPOGLI