UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE: INFO REQUEST

S E C R E T STATE 067910 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2034 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER XY UNSC SUBJECT: UNSC LIBERIA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE: INFO REQUEST REF: SC/8176/REV.1* Classified By: IO A/S BRIMMER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request; see para 3. -------------- STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The strategic objective is to ensure the United States is in compliance with its UN obligation to freeze assets on U.S. territory of individuals and entities designated by the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia ("the Liberia Sanctions Committee" - www.un.org/sc/committees/1521/index.shtml). -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Action addressees are requested to approach host governments and request information for the two designated individuals listed in para 5 and transmit response via a standalone UNCLASSIFIED cable. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) In August 2004, the UK submitted Edwin Snowe and Martin George for designation by the Liberia Sanctions Committee for their connections to the regime of former President Charles Taylor. The Liberia Sanctions Committee designated these individuals on 25 August 2004, but the United States has not domestically designated them. If these individuals have assets on U.S. territory, then the United States is out of compliance with its UN obligation to freeze assets of listed individuals/entities. U.S. non-compliance undercuts our credibility in requesting other Member States to live up to their UN obligations. The United States is in the process of compiling the information needed to administer the asset freeze against these two individuals in the United States. To do so, the United States must compile sufficient bio-identifiers (para 6) and information demonstrating the targets meet the designation criteria (para 7). -------------- INDIVIDUALS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Posts are to request the following information from host governments: -- Martin GEORGE: the United States cannot implement the asset freeze without additional bio-identifiers (para 6); we also seek information on his current activities, particularly any activities that show continued ties with Charles Taylor or Taylor,s associates (para 7) -- Edwin SNOWE: we have sufficient bio-identifiers (para 6); however, we seek information on his current activities, particularly any activities that show continued ties with Charles Taylor or Taylor,s associates (para 7) -------------- BIO-IDENTIFIERS -------------- ¶6. (U) If exact information is not available, please request that governments provide whatever information is available (for example, years of birth and current believed locations would be useful, even if specific dates of birth and addresses are not available): - AKAs - DOB (critical) - POB - Citizenship / Nationality - Title / rank - Current address or location - Passport number and issuing country - National ID number -------------- CRITERIA FOR ASSET FREEZE DESIGNATION -------------- ¶7. (U) Pursuant to operative paragraph 1 of UNSC resolution 1532 (2004),the Liberia Committee can designate for inclusion on its asset freeze list the following individuals to prevent them from using misappropriated funds and property to interfere in the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia and the sub-region: - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, and his immediate family members, in particular Jewell Howard Taylor and Charles Taylor, Jr. and - Senior officials of the former Taylor regime or other close allies or associates. -------------- REPORTING DEADLINE AND POC -------------- ¶8. (U) Posts are requested to respond by 22 July. Point of contact in IO's Office of Peacekeeping, Sanctions, and Counterterrorism is Jean Clark (202.736.7736; clarkjt@state.sgov.gov). ¶9. (U) Department appreciates Posts' efforts. CLINTON