Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/850 of 27 May 2016 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria

28.5.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 141/125 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2016/850 of 27 May 2016 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 31 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/255/CFSP (1). (2) On 28 May 2015, the Council adopted Decision 2015/837/CFSP (2), extending the restrictive measures set out in Decision 2013/255/CFSP until 1 June 2016. (3) On the basis of a review of Decision 2013/255/CFSP, the restrictive measures should be further extended until 1 June 2017. (4) Two persons should no longer be kept on the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies subject to the restrictive measures in Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP. (5) The information relating to certain persons listed in Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP should be updated. (6) Decision 2013/255/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Article 34 of Decision 2013/255/CFSP is replaced by the following: ‘Article 34 This Decision shall apply until 1 June 2017. It shall be kept under constant review. It may be renewed, or amended as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.’. Article 2 Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision. Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 27 May 2016. For the Council The President A.G. KOENDERS (1) Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ L 147, 1.6.2013, p. 14). (2) Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/837 of 28 May 2015 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ L 132, 29.5.2015, p. 82).L 141/126 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.5.2016 ANNEX I. The entries concerning the following persons are deleted from the list of persons set out in Section A of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP: No 15. Mohamed Farahat (a.k.a. Muhammad Farahat) No 17. Muhammad ( ) Nasif ( ) (a.k.a. Naseef, Nassif, Nasseef) Khayrbik ( ). II. The entries concerning the persons listed below, as set out in Section A of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP, are replaced by the following entries: Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 8. Rami ( ) Born: 10 July 1969; Leading businessman operating in Syria with 9.5.2011 interests in the telecommunications, finan­ Makhlouf ( ) Place of birth: cial services, transport and property sectors; Damascus; he has financial interest in and/or holds se­ passport No 454224 nior and executive positions in Syriatel, the leading mobile telephone operator in Syria, the investment funds Al Mashreq, Bena Properties and Cham Holding. He furnishes financing and support to the Syrian regime, through his business inter­ ests. He is an influential member of the Makhlouf family and closely connected to the Assad family; cousin of President Bashar al-Assad. 18. Mohammed ( ) Born: 20 May 1966; Leading businessman operating in Syria, 27.1.2015 with interests in the engineering and con­ Hamcho ( ) Passport struction, media, hospitality and health sec­ No 002954347 tor. He has financial interest in and/or holds senior and executive positions within a number of companies in Syria, in particular Hamsho international, Hamsho Communi­ cation, Mhg International, Jupiter for Invest­ ment and Tourism project and Syria Metal industries. He plays an important role in the business community in Syria as general secretary of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce (ap­ pointed by the then Minister for economy Khodr Orfali in December 2014), chairman of the China-Syria Bilateral Business Coun­ cils (since March 2014) and chairman of the Syrian Metal and Steel Council (since De­ cember 2015). He has close business relationships with key figures of the Syrian regime, including Ma­ her Al-Assad. Mohammed Hamcho benefits from and pro­ vides support to the Syrian regime through his business interests, and is associated with persons benefiting from and providing sup­ port to this regime.28.5.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 141/127 Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 22. Ihab ( ) (a.k.a. Born: 21 January Leading businessman operating in Syria. 23.5.2011 Ehab, Iehab) 1973; Ihab Makhlouf is Vice President of, and shareholder in Syriatel, the leading mobile Makhlouf ( ) Place of birth: telephone operator in Syria. He also has Damascus; business interests in several other Syrian Passport companies and entities, including Ramak No N002848852 Construction Co and Syrian International Private University for Science and Technol­ ogy (SIUST). As Vice President of Syriatel, which transfers a significant part of its profits to the Syrian government by way of its licensing contract, Ihab Makhlouf is also directly supporting the Syrian regime. He is an influential member of the Makhlouf family and closely connected to the Assad family; cousin of President Bashar al-Assad. 28. Khalid ( ) (a.k.a. Leading businessperson operating in Syria, 27.1.2015 with interests and/or activities in the tele­ Khaled) Qaddur communications, oil and plastic industry ( ) (a.k.a. sectors and close business relations with Ma­ her Al-Assad. Qadour, Qaddour, Kaddour) He benefits from and provides support to the Syrian regime, through his business ac­ tivities. Associate of Maher Al-Assad, including through his business activities. 29. Ra'if ( ) Born: 3.2.1967; Business associate of Maher Al-Assad and re­ 23.6.2011 sponsible for managing some of his business Al-Quwatly Place of birth: interests; provides funding to the regime. Damascus ( ) (a.k.a. Ri'af Al-Quwatli a.k.a. Raeef Al-Kouatly) 32. Mr Mohammed Born: 19.10.1932; Influential member of the Makhlouf family, 1.8.2011 ( ) Makhlouf business associate and father of Rami, Ihab Place of birth: and Iyad Makhlouf. Closely associated with Latakia, Syria ( ) (a.k.a. the Assad family and maternal uncle of Ba­ shar and Mahir al-Assad. Also referred to as Abu Rami) Abu Rami. Leading businessperson operating in Syria, with interests and/or activities in multiple sectors of Syria's economy, including inter­ ests in and/or significant influence in the General Organisation of Tobacco and the oil and gas, arms and banking sectors.L 141/128 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.5.2016 Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing Involved in business dealings for the Assad regime in arms procurement and banking. Given the extent of his business and political ties to the regime he provides support to and benefits from the Syrian regime. 33. Ayman ( ) Jabir Place of birth: Lata­ Leading businessman operating in Syria, in­ 27.1.2015 kia volved in the steel, media, consumable ( ) (a.k.a. Aiman goods and oil sectors, including in trading Jaber) these goods. He has financial interest and/or holds senior executive positions in a number of companies and entities in Syria, in par­ ticular Al Jazira (aka Al Jazerra; El Jazireh), Dunia TV, and Sama Satellite Channel. Through his company Al Jazira, Ayman Ja­ ber has facilitated the importation of oil from Overseas Petroleum Trading to Syria. Ayman Jaber benefits from and provides support to the regime, through his business interests. Provides direct support for and plays leading role in activities of regime affiliated militias known as Shabiha and/or Suqur as-Sahraa. Associate of Rami Makhlouf through his business activities and an associate of Maher Al-Assad through his role in regime af­ filiated militias. 41. Ali ( ) Douba Born: 1933 Responsible for killings in Hama in 1980, 23.8.2011 has been called back to Damascus as special Place of birth: Karfis, ( ) Syria advisor to President Bashar Al-Assad. 48. Samir ( ) Hassan Leading businessperson operating in Syria, 27.9.2014 ( ) with interests and/or activities in multiple sectors of Syria's economy. He holds inter­ ests in and/or has significant influence in the Amir Group and Cham Holdings, two conglomerates with interests in the real es­ tate, tourism, transport and finance sectors. Since March 2014, he has held the position of Chairman for Russia of the Bilateral Busi­ ness Councils following his appointment by Minister of Economy, Khodr Orfali. Samir Hassan supports the regime's war ef­ fort with cash donations.28.5.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 141/129 Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing Samir Hassan is associated with persons benefitting from or supporting the regime. In particular, he is associated with Rami Makhlouf and Issam Anbouba, who have been designated by the Council and benefits from the Syrian regime. 108. Mohammad ( ) Born: 1945; Former Minister of Finance, in office until 1.12.2011 (a.k.a. Mohamed, 9 February 2013. As former Government Place of birth: Muhammad, Minister, shares responsibility for the regi­ Damascus Mohammed) me's violent repression against the civilian Al-Jleilati population. ( ) 111. Joseph ( ) Born: 1958; Former Minister of State, in office until at 23.3.2012 least 21 January 2014. As former Govern­ Place of Birth: Suwaid ( ) ment Minister, shares responsibility for the Damascus regime's violent repression against the civil­ ian population. 112. Hussein ( ) Born: 1957; Former Minister of State, in office until at 23.3.2012 least 2014. As former Government Minister, (a.k.a. Hussain) Place of Birth: Hama shares responsibility for the regime's violent Mahmoud ( ) repression against the civilian population. Farzat ( ) (a.k.a.: Hussein Mahmud Farzat) 114. Emad ( ) Born: 1964; Former Minister of Telecommunications and 27.2.2012 Technology, in office until at least April Abdul-Ghani Place of birth: 2014. As former Government Minister, ( ) Sabouni Damascus shares responsibility for the regime's violent ( ) repression against the civilian population. (a.k.a.: Imad Abdul Ghani Al Sabuni) 117. Adnan ( ) Born: 1966; Former Minister of Information. As former 23.9.2011 Government Minister, shares responsibility Place of birth: Hassan ( ) for the regime's violent repression against Tartous the civilian population. Mahmoud ( )L 141/130 EN Official Journal of the European Union 28.5.2016 Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 192. Hashim Anwar Born: 1961 Leading businessperson operating in Syria, 23.7.2014 al-Aqqad a.k.a. with interests and/or activities in multiple Place of birth: Hashem Aqqad, sectors of Syria's economy. He holds inter­ Mohagirine, Syria Hashem Akkad, ests in and/or has significant influence in Hashim Akkad Anwar Akkad Sons Group (AASG) and its subsidiary United Oil. AASG is a conglomer­ ate with interests in sectors such as oil, gas, chemicals, insurance, industrial machinery, real estate, tourism, exhibitions, contracting, insurance, and medical equipment. Hashim Anwar al-Aqqad also worked as a member of the Syrian Parliament as recently as 2012. Al-Aqqad could not have remained success­ ful without assistance from the regime. Gi­ ven the extent of his business and political ties to the regime he provides support to and benefits from the Syrian regime. 201. Wael Abdulkarim Al Karim for Trade Leading businessperson operating in Syria in 7.3.2015 and Industry, PO the oil, chemicals and manufacturing indus­ (a.k.a. Wael Al Box 111, 5797 Da­ tries. Specifically, he represents Abdulkarim Karim) mascus, Syria Group, a.k.a Al Karim Group/Alkarim for Trade and Industry/Al Karim Trading and In­ dustry/Al Karim for Trade and Industry. Ab­ dulkarim Group is a leading manufacturer of lubricants, greases and industrial chemi­ cals in Syria. 203. George Haswani Address: Damascus Leading businessperson operating in Syria, 7.3.2015 Province, Yabroud, with interests and/or activities in the engin­ (a.k.a. Heswani; Al Jalaa St, Syria eering, construction and oil and gas sectors. Hasawani; Al He holds interests in and/or has significant Hasawani) influence in a number of companies and en­ tities in Syria, in particular HESCO Engin­ eering and Construction Company, a major engineering and construction company. George Haswani has close ties to the Syrian regime. He provides support and benefits from the regime through his role as a mid­ dleman in deals for the purchase of oil from ISIL by the Syrian regime. He also benefits from the regime through favourable treat­ ment including the award of a contract (as a subcontractor) with Stroytransgaz, a major Russian oil company.