Cablegate: Terrorism Finance: U.S. Domestic Designation Of

VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #1652 3461502
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111502Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2820
INFO RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0246
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0574
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0658
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BERLIN 001652

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE PETER SCHROEDER
STATE FOR EEB/ESC/TFS CHRIS BACKERMEYER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL PINR KWBG KPAL IS
SA, WE, GZ, GM
SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: U.S. DOMESTIC DESIGNATION OF
UNION OF GOOD

REF: STATE 127070

1. (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel demarche to the German
Ministries of Finance, Economics, and Foreign Affairs
regarding the U.S. designation of the Saudi Arabia-based
Union of Good organization as a supporter of terror and
encouraged the ministries to pursue similar measures. None
of our German interlocutors were aware of any information
linking the Union of Good and Hamas, but they said that
Germany works exclusively within the EU on all issues related
to the designation of entities as supporters of terror.

2. (SBU) Economics Ministry Office Director Martin Lutz
explained that the only exception to Germany working outside
of the EU on such designations was if there was the clear and
present danger of a pending terrorist act. In this case,
Lutz said that Germany could put emergency measures in place
to designate terror sponsors, but could only do it
temporarily - allowing for immediate action, while giving the
entire EU time to make the designation. Finance Ministry
Desk Officer Kristina Wogatzki and Lutz both said that they
would welcome further information from the USG regarding the
Union of Good and the connection with Hamas.
Koenig

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