TERRORISM FINANCE -- GOI RESPONSE RE DESIGNATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 000068 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, T, E, S/CT, EEB/ESC/TFS, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP TREASURY FOR FOR MALACHY NUGENT/TRINA RAND/COLLEEN STACK SINGAPORE FOR SUSAN BAKER NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EFIN LE ID SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE -- GOI RESPONSE RE DESIGNATION OF WAAD PROJECT REF: STATE 01800 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message contains an Action Request -- Please see Para five. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has reviewed with the GOI the U.S. designation of the Waad Project--a Lebanon-based Hizballah-run construction company--as a terrorist organization. Our contact asked whether the USG intended to try to place the Waad Project on the United Nations list. Mission seeks Department's guidance in responding to this question. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) On January 13, Dep/Pol/C reviewed the USG's designation of the Waad Project under Executive Order 13224 with Andy Rachmianto, Deputy Director for International Security and Disarmament at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Dep/Pol/C also provided Rachmianto a copy of the background document. Dep/Pol/C noted that the designations prohibited U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with the Waad Project. The U.S. designation came in response to UNSCR 1373 which directed all states to suppress and prevent the financing of terrorist acts and freeze their financial assets. This was a USG domestic designation, but Indonesia should consider taking similar steps, Dep/Pol/C underscored. Dep/Pol/C requested that the GOI share with us any information it has about the activities (if any) of the Waad Project in Indonesia. ¶4. (C) Rachmianto said the GOI would review the information. He asked whether the United States aimed to place the Waad Project on the United Nations list of designated entities. Dep/Pol/C said he would convey the question to Washington. ¶5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Mission requests Department's guidance in responding to the Indonesian request re whether we intend to try to place the Waad Project on the UN list. END ACTION REQUEST. HEFFERN