TERRORISM FINANCE: U.S. DOMESTIC DESIGNATION OF

UNCLAS BERLIN 001652 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER STATE FOR EEB/ESC/TFS CHRIS BACKERMEYER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL PINR KWBG KPAL IS SA, WE, GZ, GM SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: U.S. DOMESTIC DESIGNATION OF UNION OF GOOD REF: STATE 127070 ¶1. (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel demarche to the German Ministries of Finance, Economics, and Foreign Affairs regarding the U.S. designation of the Saudi Arabia-based Union of Good organization as a supporter of terror and encouraged the ministries to pursue similar measures. None of our German interlocutors were aware of any information linking the Union of Good and Hamas, but they said that Germany works exclusively within the EU on all issues related to the designation of entities as supporters of terror. ¶2. (SBU) Economics Ministry Office Director Martin Lutz explained that the only exception to Germany working outside of the EU on such designations was if there was the clear and present danger of a pending terrorist act. In this case, Lutz said that Germany could put emergency measures in place to designate terror sponsors, but could only do it temporarily - allowing for immediate action, while giving the entire EU time to make the designation. Finance Ministry Desk Officer Kristina Wogatzki and Lutz both said that they would welcome further information from the USG regarding the Union of Good and the connection with Hamas. Koenig