ROMANIA: GOR ON MEK AND TERRORIST ABUSE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000079 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA BROCKWELL, EUR/CE ASCHIEBE, EEB FOR LRECHT, ALSO FOR INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019 TAGS: KTFN EFIN PTER ETTC PHUM EAID RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA: GOR ON MEK AND TERRORIST ABUSE OF CHARITABLE SECTOR REF: A) SECSTATE 5834 B) BRUSSELS 101 Classified By: Classified by Charge d'Affaires Jeri Guthrie-Corn for re asons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary. Post delivered ref A demarche points to Elena Paris, Chief of the Office for Implementation of International Sanctions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),on January 27th. During this discussion, EconOff also raised the recent EU Mujaheddin e-Khalq (MEK) de-listing decision from ref B. Paris confirmed that the de-listing had taken place and urged that the U.S. request a listing, as it appeared that no EU member state was inclined to do so at this time. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In responding to ref A, Paris noted that Romania's legislation currently covers charitable organizations and that the GOR is concerned about the diversion of monetary donations to finance terrorism. The National Authority to Prevent and Combat Money Laundering (Financial Intelligence Unit) is empowered to conduct investigations on how funds have been spent by charitable organizations and is permitted to levy fines on them when and if irregularities are found. Paris was interested in hearing details on the alternative relief concept that the USG is piloting in the Palestinian territories. She agreed that U.S.-EU coordination on terrorist financing issues was essential and said that the GOR was supportive of these efforts. ¶3. (C/NF) In light of our broader cooperation, Paris did acknowledge that the recent EU de-listing of the MEK was unfortunate, but said that the EU had little choice in the matter, given that two court decisions had already gone against them. As there is currently no "competent authority" able to propose the listing within the EU, she said that the United States may wish to formally propose a listing, saying that third countries are permitted to make listing proposals. Paris said that the GOR is supportive of efforts to maintain the MEK listing, but is unable to propose the listing itself due to juridical constraints. GUTHRIE-CORN