NOTIFICATION OF TREASURY DESIGNATION OF MUHAMMAD

Sid: 186106 date: 1/7/2009 18:02 refid: 09STATE1467 origin: Secretary of State classification: SECRET//NOFORN destination: 09DAMASCUS126|09DAMASCUS146|09DAMASCUS149|09DAMASCUS177|09DAMASCUS438|09OTTAWA1398|09STATE95077 header: VZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1467 0071816 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 071802Z JAN 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0000 INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0000 -------------- header ends -------------- S E C R E T STATE 001467 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2019 TAGS: EFIN KTFN CA SY SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF TREASURY DESIGNATION OF MUHAMMAD HAMSHU REF: A. A. STATE 95077 ¶B. B. DAMASCUS 126 ¶C. C. DAMASCUS 438 ¶D. D. DAMASCUS 177 ¶E. E. DAMASCUS 149 ¶F. F. DAMASCUS 146 ¶G. G. OTTAWA 1398 Classified By: NEA/ELA Acting Director S.Newhouse, reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 4. ¶2. (S//NF) SUMMARY. The United States Government intends to designate Muhammad Hamshu pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13460 as early as January 12, 2009, but no later than January 16, 2009, for engaging in and facilitating public corruption by senior officials within the Government of Syria. Previously, the Department asked Embassy Ottawa to ask appropriate Canadian authorities to confirm Hamshu's Canadian citizenship (REF. A). A Canadian DFAIT official informed Embassy Ottawa that Canadian privacy laws prevent the government of Canada from disclosing information regarding Muhammad Hamshu's legal status in Canada, including whether he is a Canadian citizen (REF G). DFAIT and the Canadian Department of Justice advised Embassy Ottawa to request this information through Canadian law enforcement channels under the terms of the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). DFAIT and DOJ jointly recommended the request be referred to the Canadian Foreign Central Authority for their consideration. END SUMMARY. -------------- OBJECTIVE -------------- ¶3. (S//NF) Treasury Department requests that Embassy Ottawa notify appropriate authorities in the Government of Canada of the United States Government's intention to designate Muhammad Hamshu pursuant to E.O. 13460 during the week of January 12-16, 2009, for engaging in and facilitating public corruption by senior officials within the Government of Syria. Hamshu is a corrupt business figure and member of the Syrian parliament with close ties to senior Syrian regime officials. Treasury welcomes any information the Government of Canada (GOC) can provide on Muhammad Hamshu, specifically confirming Muhammad Hamshu's Canadian citizenship, prior to designation. If the GOC is not able to advise the USG of Hamshu's Canadian legal status before January 12, the USG would not/not publicly release at the time of Hamshu's designation any reference to possible Canadian legal status. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶4. (S) Please use the following points in meetings with Canadian Officials: BEGIN TEXT APPROVED FOR RELEASE TO CANADIAN OFFICIALS --(S//REL to USA, CAN) The United States intends to designate Muhammad Hamshu under Executive Order 13460 for being responsible for, having engaged in, having facilitated, or having secured improper advantage as a result of, public corruption by senior officials within the Government of Syria. --(S//REL to USA, CAN) The United States Government has reason to believe that Muhammad Hamshu may have legal status within Canada and requests that the Canadian Government determine his status, if any. If Muhammad Hamshu is in fact a Canadian citizen or resident alien, the USG requests a copy of any supporting documentation. --(S//REL to USA, CAN) If the Canadian Government confirms that Hamshu has legal status within Canada, then unless the Canadian Government objects, the United States Government will make public Muhammad Hamshu's Canadian citizenship at the time of designation for accurate identification in the event of a blocking action by financial institutions. --(S//REL to USA, CAN) Additionally, the United States Government would appreciate any information the Canadian Government can provide on Muhammad Hamshu's commercial interests or financial business holdings. --(U) To assist the Canadian Government in this determination, the following identifying information is provided: (U) Aliases: --(U) Muhammad Sabir Hamshu --(U) Muhammed Saber Hamsho --(U) Muhammad Hamsho --(U) Mohammed Hamshou (U) DOB: 1966 (U) POB: Damascus, Syria (U) Businesses Owned: --(U) Hamsho Group International --(U) Middle East Marketing Organization (U) THIS INFORMATION IS FURNISHED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED OR KNOWLEDGE OF ITS POSSESSION REVEALED TO ANY OTHER NATION OR PARTY WITHOUT SPECIFIC AUTHORITY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THAT IT WILL BE PROVIDED SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DEGREE OF SECURITY PROTECTION AFFORDED TO IT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. END TEXT APPROVED FOR RELEASE TO CANADIAN OFFICIALS -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶5. (U) Embassy should report results of efforts by cable to State Deputy Director for Canadian Affairs Gary Sheaffer at SheafferGL@state.sgov.gov and Treasury TFFC Policy Advisor Hagar Hajjar at hajjarh@treasury.tsdn.sgov.gov. RICE =======================CABLE ENDS======================