TERRORISM FINANCE: REQUEST FOR POSTS' NOMINATION

S E C R E T ROME 002588 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECRET/NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER FR IT SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: REQUEST FOR POSTS' NOMINATION OF ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES FOR TRANCHE II OF THE RADICAL IDEOLOGUE INITIATIVE REF: A. STATE 135332 ¶B. PARIS 5732 Classified By: Classified By: DCM ANNA M. BORG FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (S/NF) Post does not have any nominations for the second tranche of the Radical Ideologue Initiative at this time (ref A). However, we will continue to remain alert to individuals and groups which would be appropriate under this initiative. ¶2. (S/NF) Econoff spoke September 6 with Cristina Collura, Finance Ministry (MoF) Office Director for Financial Crimes, regarding GOI policy on radical ideologues. Collura stated that no GOI policy had been developed since the latest GOI-USG discussions on radical ideologues (ref A). While offering support to U.S. policy on radical ideologues, Collura asserted that Italy's interagency Financial Security Committee (FSC) would consider each case according to existing Italian laws, EU conventions, international agreements, and FSC processes. Collura said that, in practical terms, Italian law enforcement agencies must conduct an investigation on a given individual or group and Italian judicial authorities must review the investigation before Italy could support any UN designations of an Italy-based radical ideologue. ¶3. (S/NF) We read with interest reftel B comments. Embassy Rome also shares reftel B concerns that posts cannot inform or consult with host country counterparts, who, in the case of Italy, have always been highly cooperative with the United States on combating terrorism financing. We also share reftel B concerns that posts subscribing to the radical ideologue initiative might accidentally interfere in internal host country investigations. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that Embassy Rome be allowed to inform and work with the GOI on the radical ideologues initiative. This way, we can better develop Italy's capabilities in targeting individuals and groups that fall under this initiative. SPOGLI