LEBANON: HARIRI PROVIDES ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ON MAKLOUF, SHAWKAT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

Reference ID 08BEIRUT264
Date 2008-2-19 12:31
Released 2010-12-01 19:07
Classification SECRET//NOFORN
Origin Embassy Beirut




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S E C R E T BEIRUT 000264

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER, TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, PARM, PHUM, PINR, SY, IS, LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: HARIRI PROVIDES ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ON
MAKLOUF, SHAWKAT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

REF: A. BEIRUT 215
B. DAMASCUS 70

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Michele J. Sison for Reasons: Se
ction 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (S/NF) In the course of a February 11 meeting with the
Charge (Ref A), majority leader Saad Hariri and advisor
Ghattas Khoury provided anecdotal information regarding
alleged financial transactions of Rami Maklouf and Syrian
Directory of Military Intelligence Asef Shawket. They
alleged that Maklouf had assisted Syrian President Bashar
Asad in moving funds out of Syria to Dubai. Most of the
money was funneled through the Damascus airport he said.
Maklouf also allegedly owns a hotel in Romania and other real
estate in Dubai. Shawket reportedly facilitated the transfer
of $50 million from Qatar in Free Patriotic Movement leader
General Michel Aoun's OTV, in the names of Aoun's daughters.

2. (S/NF) As they have before, Hariri and Khoury urged that
the USG designate Maklouf and Shawket as a means of punishing
Syria for it's interference in Lebanon and because their
activities promote corruption.
SISON


Source: Wikileaks