TERRORISM FINANCE: ITALY TO DESIGNATE FOUR

S E C R E T ROME 001493 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS:DBROWN, S/CT:TKUSHNER, IO/PSC:BFITZGERALD, EUR/PGI:LREASOR;EUR/WE:AYOUNG NSC FOR THINNEN, JZARATE TREASURY FOR DGLASER, BDAVIS, ASZUBIN OFAC FOR RWERNER, PLURIE, JYANG DOJ FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2016 TAGS: EFIN ETTC IT KTFN PREL PTER SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: ITALY TO DESIGNATE FOUR INDIVIDUALS REF: ROME 3890 Classified By: A/ECMIN Kathleen Reddy for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA. 4. ¶2. (S) Finance Ministry Director for Financial Crimes, Cristina Collura, told EconOff May 15 that the Government of Italy will pre-notify in June, 2006, the names of four individuals to the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee members for inclusion on its consolidated list of individuals/entities subject to UN Security Council-mandated sanctions, including asset freezing. Collura said that the GOI would be interested in a U.S. co-designation, or, a U.S. letter of support. Collura also provided extensive evidentiary background in Italian, which embassy will email to those listed on the pass line above. ¶3. (U) The four individuals are: -- Housni Jamal, alias Jamal Al Magrebi, POB Morocco, DOB 22.02.1983 -- Sahraoui Nessim Ben Romdhane, alias Daas, POB Bizerte (Tunisia) DOB 03.08.1973. -- Zoghbai Merai, POB Bendasi, (Libya) DOB 04.04.1960. -- Saadi Fadhal, POB Haidra (Tunisia) DOB 28.07.1979. Comment and Action Requested -------------- ¶4. (S) The United States put a hold on, or forced the delay of consideration of, the last two Italian submissions to the 1267 Committee (reftel),and our Italian counterparts have indicated that the U.S. holds have had a chilling effect on Italy making additional 1267 Committee submissions. Post strongly urges Washington agencies to review soonest the four names for legal sufficiency, to determine if the United States can either 1) co-designate or 2) provide a letter of support, for the Italian designation. Please inform post by cable of the findings. SPOGLI