US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA1703

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001703 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS (MBRUNO), S/CT (TKUSHNER), IO/PHO 
(BFITZGERALD), AND WHA/CAN 
TREASURY (JZARATE), AND OFAC (RWERNER) 
NSC (KEMERSON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2015 
TAGS: EFIN, ETTC, PREL, PTER, CVIS, KVPR, KTFN, CA, Terrorist Finance 
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE - OTTAWA: CANADIAN INTEREST IN 
LISTING HIG 
 
REF: A. STATE 98286 
     B. OTTAWA 1493 
 
Classified By: Wendy Moore, Economics Counselor, Ottawa.  Reason:  1.4( 
e). 
 
1.   (S)  This is an urgent action request.  See para 4. 
 
2.  (S) On June 6, Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) provided post 
with their analysis of listing HIG under Canada's criminal 
code. (Hekmatyar, as an individual, and MEK, were recently 
added to Canada's criminal code, but the GOC held HIG for 
further consideration.) The points below (para 3) will be 
presented at a Deputy Ministers' meeting on the topic 
tomorrow, June 7.  The Canadian embassy in Kabul arranged a 
meeting with other embassies on June 1 to discuss listing 
HIG.  That meeting, along with discussions with Afghan FM 
Abdullah in Ottawa on June 1 and our feedback in ref A, 
contributed to Foreign Affairs Canada's position.  Although, 
as explained below, FAC is leaning towards a listing along 
the lines of "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction"  rather than 
HIG, they do not know if other agencies will agree to 
restrict the listing as the Statement of Case was written for 
HIG overall. 
 
3.  Begin text: 
 
(S) Criminal Code listing 
"Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin" 
 
--  FAC agrees that the group directly associated with 
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar should be listed under the Criminal Code. 
 
--  Based on this and the decision taken at the last meeting 
of Deputy Ministers on this issue, we have conducted 
consultations with our allies both in capitals and in Kabul. 
 
--  While all those consulted support action being taken 
against those directly associated with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, 
concerns were expressed with respect to the appellation of 
the group. 
 
--  During his visit to Ottawa on June 1, and when asked, 
Afghan FM Abdullah cautioned that the designation of "Hezb-e 
Islami Gulbuddin" could cast the net too widely.  He further 
indicated that the formulation might be ambiguous and 
suggested "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction" as a possibility. 
 He emphasized the importance of using a qualifying term like 
"faction", in recognition of the fact that Hezb-e Islami has 
various factions with different leadership. 
 
--  Abdullah encouraged Canada not/not to take immediate 
action and suggested further consultations in Kabul with the 
GoA, on the possible negative implications of listing. 
 
--  We will have the opportunity to consult with FM Abdullah 
again early next week in The Hague and will use the occasion 
to seek Afghan views on the most appropriate appellation. 
 
--  Since Canada will be taking the lead among allies, it is 
imperative that we get the name right.  While certain 
formulations might be appropriate in intelligence circles, we 
must chose the name that is most accurate and understandable. 
 
--  Sensitivity with listing HIG has also been flagged by the 
US, who expressed concern about possible negative 
implications on the ongoing reconciliation process in 
Afghanistan. 
 
--  While the reconciliation process has not been formally 
announced, our understanding is that it has been designed to 
reintegrate members of both the Taliban and HIG into their 
communities.  The process is being administered by the 
Afghans with significant US involvement. 
 
--  Afghan Parliamentary and provincial elections are 
scheduled to be held on September 18, 2005.  The Afghans have 
adopted the single non-transferable vote system, which means 
that people will be voting for individual candidates and not 
parties.  We must bear in mind the fact that those associated 
with Hezb-e Islami will be running in the election and 
indeed, as FM Abdullah noted, are already represented in the 
government.  We want to ensure that the appellation does not 
capture those unintended. 
 
--  FAC will work with PSEPC and CSIS  (Note:  Public Safety 
and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Canadian Security 
Intelligence Service.  End note), and approach the US and the 
Afghan Foreign Minister Adbullah early next week in advance 
of the Deputy Ministers' meeting to seek views on the most 
appropriate appellation to attain our listing objective while 
not unintendedly casting the net too widely, e.g., "Hezb-e 
Islami Hekmatyar faction". 
 
FAC/3 June 2005 
 
End GOC text 
 
4.  (S)  Action request:  The approaches to the US and Afghan 
FM Abdullah mentioned above are taking place today, via this 
message and in The Hague.  Foreign Affairs Canada would like 
to know if the USG would have any problem with a GOC decision 
to designate HIG.  If so, could we support designation of an 
alternative such as "Hezb-e Islami Hekmatyar Faction?" GOC 
ministers will meet to decide on the HIG designation on 
Tuesday, June 14, so any USG response should be conveyed by 
OOB Friday, June 10 in order for Foreign Affairs staff to 
incorporate our views into briefing papers. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
DICKSON