DEMARCHE TO GOAB ON ZOOKZ.COM WEBSITE

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000460 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR KENT SHIGETOMI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD XL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO GOAB ON ZOOKZ.COM WEBSITE REF: SECSTATE 73496 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered ref demarche to Antigua's Finance Minister and Attorney General in separate meetings July 24. By that time, the GOAB had taken aggressive action to shut down the Zookz.com website and to strongly denounce the company's assertion that it was acting legally under the terms of the WTO decision against the USG in the internet gaming dispute. The Attorney General further advised that the GOAB was investigating the company's owner (note: not/not the attorney listed on the website, who the AG asserted was simply a "shell" for the operation) for potential immigration violations, and was intent on vigorously prosecuting him. The AG did not have the individual's name readily available, but promised to provide it at a later date. Econoff thanked the GOAB for its swift and decisive action to uphold IPR in Antigua in advance of MINFIN Lovell's July 30 meeting with USTR Kirk. HARDT