UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 103495

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER UNSC EG
SUBJECT: UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE
LONGSTANDING USG HOLDS ON EGYPTIAN TERRORIST SANCTIONS
REQUESTS

REF: CAIRO 1176

Classified By: IO PDAS James B. Warlick, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.

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BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
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2. (C) In March 2005, the GOE nominated 20 names for
inclusion on the UN 1267 Committee's Consolidated List of
individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Laden,
al-Qaida or the Taliban. Seven of the nominated names were
approved and subsequently listed in 2005, however, the USG
placed a hold on 13 of these names because there was
insufficient information for us to support their listing. In
May 2008, the GOE submitted additional information on all 20
names to the 1267 Committee, but this additional information
was not sufficient for the U.S. to be able to support these
listings. These coordination (and subsequent cooperation)
problems reflect a need for a better working relationship
with the GOE on 1267 sanctions. Consequently, we propose a
plan to (i) resolve these holds, (ii) identify new
designation targets of mutual concern, and (iii) host a
regional 1267 sanctions workshop in January 2009.

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OBJECTIVES
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3. (SBU) U.S. objectives are:

-- Developing a closer working relationship with the GOE on
1267 sanctions, including being responsive to Egypt,s
submissions for listings to the 1267 Committee.

-- Underscoring to the GOE that we do not place holds or
block listing requests lightly, and our preference if
possible is to support other countries, nominations to the
1267 Committee.

-- Ensuring the GOE understands the types of information that
the USG seeks in order to support these designations.

-- Cooperating at an earlier stage to propose 1267 listings
to ensure the USG has sufficient information and can satisfy
domestic legal requirements in order to support the listing
request.


4. (SBU) TREASURY EXPERT TEAM: We propose sending a team of
Department of Treasury technical experts to Cairo as soon as
possible to (i) discuss with the GOE gaps in information to
support the 13 listing requests (including gathering
additional information about the 13); (ii) identify new
designation targets of mutual concern; and (iii) develop
robust evidentiaries for submission to the UN 1267 Committee.
In the context of how the USG sanctions regime processes
national and international designations, Treasury would
outline why the process is stalled.


5. (SBU) REGIONAL 1267 SANCTIONS WORKSHOP: To facilitate
these objectives, we suggest the GOE host a US-coordinated
regional 1267 sanctions workshop focused on strengthening
information-gathering and targeting techniques, as well as
developing evidentiary packages for UN submission that also
meet US domestic legal criteria. To this end, we recommend
to GOE interlocutors that they host such a meeting, and ask
who they think might be appropriate interlocutors. (USG
would like to see participation by Morocco, Algeria, Libya,
and Tunisia). Senior representatives from Treasury and
State, who would co-lead the USG team for the workshop, will
be available to support such a workshop. Ideally, we would
like to see Cairo host such a workshop in January 2009.

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ACTION REQUEST
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6. (U) Drawing on the objectives above and the points in
paragraph 7, Department requests that Post convey to the GOE
the USG,s commitment to develop stronger working relations
on 1267 sanctions, including resolving longstanding holds,

STATE 00103495 002 OF 002

SUBJECT: UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE
LONGSTANDING USG HOLDS ON EGYPTIAN TERRORIST SANCTIONS
REQUES
developing new targets, and developing supporting information
to propose new names, either jointly or with Egypt in the
lead, for 1267 listing. Department also requests that Post
propose that Egypt host a regional workshop in Cairo in
January 2009 with participation by the USG, and government
officials from Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.


7. (U) Post may wish to draw from the following points in
delivering demarche:

-- The USG is working to strengthen the 1267 Consolidated
List.

-- We recognize the frustrations the GOE has had with the
1267 process. We remain committed to supporting Egypt's
requests to add names to the 1267 Consolidated List, and
would like to work with Egypt to outline the types of
information that the U.S. is seeking in order to make a final
determination on whether we can support these requests.

-- In addition to seeking resolution of holds on Egypt,s
previous 1267 submissions, we would also like to work with
the GOE to identify new designation targets of mutual concern
for submission, jointly or with Egypt in the lead, to the UN
1267 Committee for listing.

--In order to accomplish these goals, the USG proposes
sending technical experts from the U.S. Department of
Treasury to Cairo to discuss these holds as well as to
explore options for new targets of mutual concern. The U.S.
team is prepared to schedule this consultation at your
earliest convenience.

-- To strengthen USG cooperation in the North Africa region
on 1267 sanctions, we propose that the GOE consider hosting a
regional workshop on 1267 sanctions, focusing on targeting
techniques, information-gathering and info-sharing, and
developing joint packages for UN designation. We envision
this event to include counter-terrorism authorities from
Egypt, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and
Tunisia. Senior Treasury representatives would launch this
event. Setting a date for the workshop in January would allow
for sufficient time for planning. We welcome your input on
the workshop, topics of discussion, and proposed dates.

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POC AND REPORTING DEADLINE
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8. (U) Questions may be directed to IO/PSC (Erin Crowe,
202-736-7847). Please slug cable response for IO/PSC Erin
Crowe, EEB/ESC/TFS Jay J. Jallorina, NEA/RA Conny Arvis,
NEA/ELA Stephen Newhouse, and Treasury/TFFC Katherine Leahy.


9. (U) Post is requested to report by October 10 on the
GOE,s interest in (1) hosting a U.S. technical expert-level
delegation to Cairo to discuss the USG holds on 13 Egyptian
UN 1267 listing requests and explore potential future targets
for joint submission, and (2) hosting a North Africa targeted
financial sanctions workshop focused on targeted techniques
and other pre-designation issues potentially to be held in
Cairo in January 2009.


10. (U) Department appreciates Post,s efforts.
RICE