GERMANY'S RESPONSE TO IRANIAN - SYRIAN BANKING

S E C R E T BERLIN 001127 SIPDIS TREASURY NEA/IR, ISN/CIP FOR MICHELLE NEW E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2033 TAGS: ECON EFIN KNNP PARM PTER PINR SY IR GM SUBJECT: GERMANY'S RESPONSE TO IRANIAN - SYRIAN BANKING REF: STATE 84841 Classified By: Global Affairs Unit Chief Don Brown for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Econoff delivered reftel non-paper to Julian Luebbert, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Desk Officer responsible for Iran Financial Sanctions; Andreas Krueger, Head of the MFA Iran Unit, and Stefan Bantle, Syria Desk Officer at MFA. Econoff also delivered reftel non-paper to Kristina Wogatski, Finance Ministry officer covering Iran Financial Sanctions. ¶2. (S) Bantle indicated that Germany was already aware of Iran's efforts to establish banking ventures in Syria. Bantle and Luebbert stated that, to their knowledge, there was no German involvement with this new entity. Bantle said he would consult with the German Embassy in Damascus on this topic and contact Econoff with any relevant information. Luebbert indicated that his office will review this information as Germany works with the EU on its implementation of the new Common Position on UNSCR 1803. ¶3. (S) At the Finance Ministry, Wogatski welcomed the information and said she would pass it to her superior. As there is no apparent German involvement with either Bank Saderat's Iranian - Syrian banking entity or any Syrian banks involved in proliferation financing, she felt there was no action for her ministry to take at this time. She also welcomed the information on Iran's efforts to circumvent existing financial sanctions and acknowledged the importance of vigilance regarding German firms' relations with Syrian banks. (Comment: She suggested this message might be of interest to the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) End Comment). TIMKEN JR