US embassy cable - 05GENEVA2414

UNCLAS GENEVA 002414 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/EUR, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, DS/ICI/CI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE SURVEILLANCE - US MISSION GENEVA - 04 and 
06 OCT 2005 
 
 
1. (U) Post:  U.S. Mission Geneva 
 
2.  (U)  Date and Time:  04 Oct 2005, at 11:40 AM and 06 Oct 
2005 
 
3.  (SBU)  Summary:  A couple was observed in the parking 
lot of the Domaine de Penthes Museum, approximately 100 
meters across from the main entrance of the U.S. Mission. 
The couple was observed standing behind their vehicle (Golf 
VW, Geneva plate GE 265 734) with the trunk of the vehicle 
open.  The SD Technician (SDT) noticed a sign in the trunk 
of the vehicle with the world "Islam" printed in French. 
After a period of undefined time at the vehicle, the couple 
went into the museum park area at approximately 1140 and sat 
down on a bench that gives an unobstructed view of the U.S. 
Mission and the front gate.  The couple subsequently 
departed the area at 1314 local time. 
 
On 06 Oct 2005, at approximately 1300, the SDT sighted the 
same vehicle in the parking lot of the Domaine de Penthes. 
The SDT observed the same couple walking in the park.  NFI. 
 
4.  (SBU) Desc:  Person #1 - Female, appeared to be Middle 
Eastern origin, approximately 45 years old, height of 170- 
175cm, and long brown hair. No further description was 
noted.  Person #2 - Male, appeared to be of Middle Eastern 
origin, with gray receding hairline.  No further description 
of the male was given, however, photographs of the male are 
available on SIMAS #78017.  The SDT could not obtain a good 
photograph of the female.  Record checks on the vehicle 
revealed the owner as Ms. Nemat Mardam-Bey. One of the SDTs 
identified the man in the photograph as Mr. Hafid Ouardidi. 
A search on the internet indicates Mardam-Bey, along with 
Mr. Hafid Ouardidi, created a private foundation called 
"Fondation de l'entr-connaissance" or translated as 
Foundation of the Interknowledge.  The foundation was 
created on the 4th of October 2002 in Geneva and Mr. 
Ouardidi is the spokesman of the foundation. 
 
5.  (SBU) Probable Target:  U.S. Mission and the front gate. 
 
6.  (SBU) Post Investigative Action:  The SDT could not 
determine if the couple was in the area to specifically 
observe the U.S. Mission.  The couple did not use binoculars 
or take any photographs or use a video.  However, the 
appearance of the same couple within two days in the same 
area could be a possible surveillance on the front gate 
activity and attempts to observe the Swiss military and 
local guards' habits. This couple has not been observed in 
the area prior to the 04 Oct 2005.  Both incidents are 
reported on Simas #78017. 
 
MOLEY