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
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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
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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.
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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