Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS870
2008-06-19 19:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
TERRORISM FINANCE: NOTIFICATION OF U.S. DOMESTIC
how-toP 191941Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1352 INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY DEPT OF TREASURY PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000870
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
EEB/ESC/TFS JJALLORINA
WHA/AND LCUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2033
TAGS: KTFN PTER PINR EFIN PREL VE LE
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: NOTIFICATION OF U.S. DOMESTIC
DESIGNATION OF VENEZUELA-BASED HIZBALLAH INDIVIDUALS
REF: STATE 60042
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Richard Downes
For Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000870
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
EEB/ESC/TFS JJALLORINA
WHA/AND LCUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2033
TAGS: KTFN PTER PINR EFIN PREL VE LE
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: NOTIFICATION OF U.S. DOMESTIC
DESIGNATION OF VENEZUELA-BASED HIZBALLAH INDIVIDUALS
REF: STATE 60042
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Richard Downes
For Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) As requested, Charge d'Affaires (CDA) delivered
information in paragraphs four and six of reftel and copies
of the Treasury Department Press notice to representatives of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
2. (C) MFA officials declined to schedule a meeting for June
18. Instead CDA provided the designation information in
paragraph four to the Director for North American Affairs and
Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha via telephone on June 18.
Arocha was at the time in New York with Vice Foreign Minister
and Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations Jorge Valero.
3. (C) On June 19 CDA met with the MFA North American desk's
de facto Deputy Marie Borregales and delivered orally the
points in paragraph six of reftel as well as copies of the
Treasury Department press release. Borregales said that
Arocha had informed her on June 18 of CDA's call and the
designation. She confirmed that Ghazi Nasr al Din was an
employee of the Ministry, but said she had not yet checked
his current status. Borregales asked whether the United
States was claiming Venezuelan involvement in Hizballah
financing. In response CDA noted the designation spoke for
itself, and was directed at two individuals and two
companies. He then reminded Venezuela of its obligations
under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 to
suppress and prevent the financing of terrorist acts.
Borregales said the Ministry would be reviewing Ghazi Nasr al
Din's activities.
4. (U) Separately, in a press conference on June 19 Minister
for Communications and Information Andres Izarra, in
reference to the Hizballah designation, said that Venezuela
had not received any formal complaint by the Lebanese
government regarding the issue. Izarra also said that Ghazi
Nasr al Din was employed as Political Counselor at the
Venezuelan Embassy in Lebanon.
Downes
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
EEB/ESC/TFS JJALLORINA
WHA/AND LCUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2033
TAGS: KTFN PTER PINR EFIN PREL VE LE
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: NOTIFICATION OF U.S. DOMESTIC
DESIGNATION OF VENEZUELA-BASED HIZBALLAH INDIVIDUALS
REF: STATE 60042
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert Richard Downes
For Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) As requested, Charge d'Affaires (CDA) delivered
information in paragraphs four and six of reftel and copies
of the Treasury Department Press notice to representatives of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
2. (C) MFA officials declined to schedule a meeting for June
18. Instead CDA provided the designation information in
paragraph four to the Director for North American Affairs and
Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha via telephone on June 18.
Arocha was at the time in New York with Vice Foreign Minister
and Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations Jorge Valero.
3. (C) On June 19 CDA met with the MFA North American desk's
de facto Deputy Marie Borregales and delivered orally the
points in paragraph six of reftel as well as copies of the
Treasury Department press release. Borregales said that
Arocha had informed her on June 18 of CDA's call and the
designation. She confirmed that Ghazi Nasr al Din was an
employee of the Ministry, but said she had not yet checked
his current status. Borregales asked whether the United
States was claiming Venezuelan involvement in Hizballah
financing. In response CDA noted the designation spoke for
itself, and was directed at two individuals and two
companies. He then reminded Venezuela of its obligations
under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 to
suppress and prevent the financing of terrorist acts.
Borregales said the Ministry would be reviewing Ghazi Nasr al
Din's activities.
4. (U) Separately, in a press conference on June 19 Minister
for Communications and Information Andres Izarra, in
reference to the Hizballah designation, said that Venezuela
had not received any formal complaint by the Lebanese
government regarding the issue. Izarra also said that Ghazi
Nasr al Din was employed as Political Counselor at the
Venezuelan Embassy in Lebanon.
Downes