TERRORISM FINANCE: FOLLOW-UP ON UNSCR 1624, ITALY

S E C R E T ROME 004124 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS:DNELSON,DBROWN, S/CT:TKUSHNER, IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD, EUR/PGI:LREASOR, EUR/ERA:KSHEARER, EUR/WE:AYOUNG NSC FOR JZARATE; THINNEN TREASURY FOR A/S GARDNER, RWERNER, PHEFFERNAN, ASZUBIN, DGLASER OFAC FOR RWERNER, PLURIE, JYANG DOJ FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2029 TAGS: CVIS EFIN IT KSEP KTFN KVPR PREL PTER ANTITERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: FOLLOW-UP ON UNSCR 1624, ITALY - NO OBJECTION, BUT NO JOINT DESIGNATION OF BOUCHTA BOURIKI REF: STATE 218823 Classified By: A/ECMIN KATHLEEN REDDY FOR REASON 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Finance Ministry DG for Financial Crimes, Giuseppe Maresca, told A/Ecoun and Econoff December 20 that the Italian Financial Security Committee (FSC -- equivalent level to USG PCC) in its December meeting considered the USG proposal to jointly propose the designation of Bouchta Bouriki (ref) to the UNSC 1267 Committee. Maresca said that law enforcement members of the FSC believe Bouriki is clearly linked to terrorism, but precisely because Italy's proof of Bouriki's links did not reach legal sufficiency, Italy expelled him, rather than press charges. For this same reason, the FSC decided that Italy is not in a position at this time to jointly designate Bouriki with the United States. However, if the United States has additional information that we could share with Italy to demonstrate Bouriki's links to terrorism, the FSC would reconsider co-designation. The FSC does not oppose the United States proposing Bouriki's designation independently. ¶2. (S/NF) The Embassy believes that designation of Bouriki would be a positive complement to Italy's deportation of him, would bolster moderate Islamic clerics in Italy, and would have a dissuasive effect on the statements of radical Islamic clerics here. If Washington agencies have information on Bouriki that could be shared with Italy, the Embassy believes a co-proposal with Italy to the UN 1267 Committee would be a public vote of confidence for Italy's new counter-terrorism law, which strengthened the Interior Minister's power to expel individuals, such as Bouriki, suspected of terrorist links. We also believe a joint designation would demonstrate the strength of our partnership with Italy in combating terrorism finance. SPOGLI