Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT4022
2006-10-09 07:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
TERROR FINANCE: MFA UNSWAYED ON RIHS
how-toVZCZCXRO3443 OO RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #4022 2820703 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090703Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7086 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0007 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004022
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS, TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: MFA UNSWAYED ON RIHS
REF: KUWAIT 3690
Classified By: Economic Counselor Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004022
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS, TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: MFA UNSWAYED ON RIHS
REF: KUWAIT 3690
Classified By: Economic Counselor Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (C) During an October 8 meeting, Econcouns asked MFA
Director for Follow-up and Coordination Khalid Al-Maqamis
what reaction the MFA had to the latest non-paper concerning
the activities of the Islamic Revival and Heritage Society,
which Econcouns delivered to Maqamis on September 12 (Ref A).
Maqamis produced two letters the MFA had recently received
from Bosnian officials -- allegedly from the Minister of
Immigration and from an ex-Prime Minister. Al-Maqamis said
the letters were responses to inquiries the MFA had sent
regarding the activities of RIHS in Bosnia. The responses,
Al-Maqamis said, indicated that RIHS activities in Bosnia
were legal and above board. The response from the Bosnian
officials, Al-Maqamis said, was "positive, not negative."
2. (C) Econcouns countered that the non-papers shared with
the MFA all contained details of RIHS involvement in
terrorism-related activity in Bosnia, as well as other
countries. Al-Maqamis offered that perhaps the U.S. had
"wrong information." Econcouns said the U.S. took the
evidence seriously and had provided information to the GOK
after careful research. Uttering his standard mantra,
Al-Maqamis said the GOK would respond formally to U.S.
charges against RIHS "as soon as possible."
3. (C) Comment: In repeated meetings, Al-Maqamis has made
clear that he believes U.S. allegations against RIHS are
unsubstantiated. This shows no signs of changing, despite
the greater level of detail provided the MFA in the last
non-paper. Al-Maqamis has indicated on several occasions
that the governments of countries in which RIHS operates --
especially Bangladesh, Albania, and Bosnia -- have not, when
approached by the GOK, shown any inclination to support or
validate U.S. charges. Absent pressure from those
governments in tandem with our own, the GOK seems content to
rest on the argument that the U.S. is the only country
concerned about RIHS's international activities.
********************************************
For more EMBASSY Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Or Visit EMBASSY Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************
Tueller
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS, TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN
SUBJECT: TERROR FINANCE: MFA UNSWAYED ON RIHS
REF: KUWAIT 3690
Classified By: Economic Counselor Timothy Lenderking for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (C) During an October 8 meeting, Econcouns asked MFA
Director for Follow-up and Coordination Khalid Al-Maqamis
what reaction the MFA had to the latest non-paper concerning
the activities of the Islamic Revival and Heritage Society,
which Econcouns delivered to Maqamis on September 12 (Ref A).
Maqamis produced two letters the MFA had recently received
from Bosnian officials -- allegedly from the Minister of
Immigration and from an ex-Prime Minister. Al-Maqamis said
the letters were responses to inquiries the MFA had sent
regarding the activities of RIHS in Bosnia. The responses,
Al-Maqamis said, indicated that RIHS activities in Bosnia
were legal and above board. The response from the Bosnian
officials, Al-Maqamis said, was "positive, not negative."
2. (C) Econcouns countered that the non-papers shared with
the MFA all contained details of RIHS involvement in
terrorism-related activity in Bosnia, as well as other
countries. Al-Maqamis offered that perhaps the U.S. had
"wrong information." Econcouns said the U.S. took the
evidence seriously and had provided information to the GOK
after careful research. Uttering his standard mantra,
Al-Maqamis said the GOK would respond formally to U.S.
charges against RIHS "as soon as possible."
3. (C) Comment: In repeated meetings, Al-Maqamis has made
clear that he believes U.S. allegations against RIHS are
unsubstantiated. This shows no signs of changing, despite
the greater level of detail provided the MFA in the last
non-paper. Al-Maqamis has indicated on several occasions
that the governments of countries in which RIHS operates --
especially Bangladesh, Albania, and Bosnia -- have not, when
approached by the GOK, shown any inclination to support or
validate U.S. charges. Absent pressure from those
governments in tandem with our own, the GOK seems content to
rest on the argument that the U.S. is the only country
concerned about RIHS's international activities.
********************************************
For more EMBASSY Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Or Visit EMBASSY Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************
Tueller