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DE RUEHC #1467 0071816
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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
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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
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