Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
05ROME4124	2005-12-21 17:24:00	SECRET//NOFORN	Embassy Rome

Cable title:

TERRORISM FINANCE: FOLLOW-UP ON UNSCR 1624, ITALY

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

					  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