NON-COMPLIANCE WITH UNSCR 1267 OBLIGATIONS:

UNCLAS STATE 145621 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTFN PREL PTER UNSC XA ER SUBJECT: NON-COMPLIANCE WITH UNSCR 1267 OBLIGATIONS: HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS AND ERITREA ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3 and ¶4. -------------- SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶2. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys was listed in November 2001 pursuant to UNSCR 1267 (Al-Qa'ida/Taliban sanctions) and subsequent resolutions. The 1267 sanctions regime obliges Member States to impose a travel ban, arms embargo and asset freeze against all listed individuals/entities. Western media recently reported that Aweys was present at the Somali opposition conference in Asmara that began on September 6, ¶2007. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) did not apply for an exemption to the travel ban via the 1267 Committee to allow for Aweys,s travel. It therefore appears that the GSE is in non-compliance with its 1267 obligations. We would like to request that the UK and France join us in a joint demarche in Asmara to express our displeasure with the GSE,s apparent violation of 1267 sanctions. -------------- OBJECTIVES AND ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. FOR EMBASSIES PARIS AND LONDON: Department requests that Embassies Paris and London ask French and UK embassy officials to join us in Asmara to demarche the GSE on its apparent non-compliance with its 1267 obligations to enforce a travel ban on Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys. The purpose of the demarche will be to request an immediate explanation for this apparent transgression and to notify the GSE that, absent a satisfactory explanation, we intend to raise this issue for discussion in the 1267 Committee. We will underscore to the GSE that the travel ban ) which obligates member states to prohibit entry and/or transit through their territory of sanctioned individuals ) is an important facet of al-Qaida/Taliban sanctions. We intend to advise the GSE that it should inform the 1267 Sanctions Committee and/or the relevant state(s) of transit or entry as it learns of plans by Aweys for any further travel, with the exception of travel directly to Somalia (Aweys,s country of residency/citizenship). ¶4. FOR USUN: Department requests USUN coordinate with IO/PSC on timing to notify the Eritrean Permrep, simultaneous to the anticipated delivery of a P-3 demarche in Asmara, that we will be delivering a demarche in Asmara asking for an explanation for Aweys,s travel to Eritrea. We will inform the Eritrean Permrep that, absent a satisfactory explanation for Aweys's travel to Eritrea, we intend to raise the issue in the 1267 Committee. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶5. Embassies Paris and London should report the results of efforts no later than COB Friday, October 19. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶6. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys was added to the UN 1267 Consolidated List on November 9, 2001, based upon his connection to Al-Qa,ida-linked Al-Ittihad al-Islamiya (AIAI). ¶7. Despite the travel ban imposed under UNSC Resolution 1267 and modified in subsequent resolutions, Aweys has continued to travel abroad. The most recent report from the 1267 Monitoring Team found that Sheikh Aweys has been allowed to travel, in apparent violation of the travel ban, on several occasions, including unauthorized visits to Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Eritrea. Most recently, Western media indicated that Aweys attended the Somali opposition conference held in Asmara beginning on September 6, 2007. ¶8. Eritrea did not petition the 1267 Committee for an exemption to permit Aweys to travel into Eritrea. By allowing Aweys entry, it appears Eritrea acted in clear violation of UNSCR 1267 and subsequent resolutions. -------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶9. Inquiries may be directed to IO/PSC (Erin Crowe, 202-736-7847). RICE