USUN INSTRUCTION: OBJECT TO LIBERIA FOCAL POINT

UNCLAS STATE 011914 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN LI PREL PTER UNSC SUBJECT: USUN INSTRUCTION: OBJECT TO LIBERIA FOCAL POINT DELISTING REQUEST FOR CHICHAKLI REF: SCSOB/DL/2009/OC.9 ¶1. This is an action request. As soon as possible, and prior to the No Objection Deadline of 13 April, USUN is requested to object to the Focal Point delisting request for: - Richard Chichakli (DOB: 29 March 1959; POB: Syria; Citizenship: U.S.) - Airbas Transportation FZE - Chichakli & Associates, PLLC - Continue Professional Education, Inc. - Daytona Pools, Inc. - DHH Enterprises, Inc. - Orient Star Cooperation - Richard A. Chichakli, P.C. - Trans Aviation Global Group, Inc. ¶2. Richard Chichakli should continue to be listed as subject to the measures imposed by paragraph 1 of UN Security Council resolution 1532 (2004) and paragraph 4 of UN Security Council resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia, which include a travel ban and asset freeze. The above eight entities owned by Chichakli should continue to be listed as subject to the measures imposed by paragraph 4 of UN Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia, which include an asset freeze. ¶3. Richard Chichakli continues to pose an ongoing threat to the peace and stability in Liberia and the subregion. Chichakli continues to act on behalf of and is associated with Viktor Bout and his network of companies that provide financial or military support to armed rebel groups in Liberia or other countries in the region. On his resume obtained from his office, Chichakli identified himself as the Controller and Chief Financial Officer for three entities owned or controlled by Bout, but his delisting petition says that he never worked with Bout, demonstrating a lack of credibility in Chichakli's statements. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Chichakli admits he set up a company in order for Bout to build a factory to manufacture parts for his Russians planes, which are used to traffic weapons to armed rebel groups. Richard Chichakli's Focal Point delisting request does not provide sufficient, credible evidence to warrant delisting. ¶4. USUN should also inform the United Arab Emirates' Mission that we have objected to Richard Chichakli's delisting request and that of Airbas Transportation FZE, which has an address in the UAE. ¶5. Department appreciates Mission's efforts. CLINTON