Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2020/212 of 17 February 2020 implementing Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.2.2020

DECISIONS

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2020/212

of 17 February 2020

implementing 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 31(2) thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria (1), and

in particular Article 30(1) 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.

(2)

In view of the fact that prominent businesspersons are making large profits through their ties with the Assad regime

and are helping to finance that regime in return, including through the joint ventures formed by certain prominent

businesspersons and entities with State-backed companies to develop expropriated land, those businesspersons and

entities are supporting and benefiting from the Assad regime including through the use of expropriated property.

(3)

Furthermore, the expropriation of land by the Assad regime from persons displaced by the conflict in Syria prevents

those persons from being able to return to their homes.

(4)

Eight natural persons and two entities should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies

subject to restrictive measures in Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

(5)

Decision 2013/255/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 17 February 2020.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) OJ L 147, 1.6.2013, p. 14.

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ANNEX

EN

1. The following persons are added to the list set out in Section A (Persons) of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP:

Name

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

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289. Mahir BurhanEddine AL-IMAM

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(a.k.a. ‫)ﻣﺎﻫﺮ ﺑﺮﻫﺎﻥ ﺍﻟﺪﻳﻦ ﺍﻹﻣﺎﻡ‬

Gender: male

Leading businessperson operating in Syria with business interests in

tourism, telecommunications and real estate. As General Manager

Nationality: Syrian

of the regime-backed Telsa Communication Group as well as of

Castro LLC, and through his other business interests, Mahir

Position: General Manager of Telsa Group/Telsa Tel­ BurhanEddine Al-Imam benefits from the regime and supports its

ecom

financing and lobbying policy as well as its construction policy.

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­

s/links: Telsa Group/Telsa Telecom; Tazamon Con­

tracting LLC; Castro LLC

Gender: male

Leading businessperson operating in Syria benefitting from and

Date of birth: 4.3.1976

supporting the regime. Owner of multiple businesses and holding

(a.k.a. Waseem, Wasseem, Wassim, Nationality: Syrian

companies with interests and activities in various economic sectors

Wasim; Anouar; Al-Kattan, Al-Kasuch as real estate, luxury hotel industry and commercial centres.

tan, Al-Qattan, Al-Qatan;

Position: President of Damascus Countryside (Rural) Waseem Al-Kattan rose rapidly as a leading businessman by

‫ ﻭﺳﻴﻢ ﺃﻧﻮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻥ‬,‫)ﻭﺳﻴﻢ ﻗﻄﺎﻥ‬

Province Chamber of Commerce

imposing taxes on goods smuggled into Eastern Ghouta under

siege, and is now involved in aggressive forms of clientelism to the

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ benefit of the regime. Waseem Al-Kattan benefits financially from

s/links:

favoured access to public tenders as well as to licences and contracts

Larosa Furniture/Furnishing; Jasmine Fields Com­ awarded by government agencies as a result of his close ties to the

pany Ltd.; Muruj Cham (Murooj al-Cham) Invest­ regime.

290. Waseem AL-KATTAN

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ment and Tourism Group; Adam and Investment

LLC; Universal Market Company LLC; Treasurer of

the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce

Official Journal of the European Union

‘288 Yasser Aziz ABBAS

Gender: male

Leading businessperson operating in Syria. Supports and/or

(a.k.a. Yasser, Yaser, Yasr; Aziz, Date of birth: 22.8.1978

benefits from the regime through business dealings, including fuel

Aziz; Abbas, Abas; ‫ )ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻋﺰﻳﺰ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ‬Nationality: Syrian

smuggling and weapons transfers. Yasser Aziz Abbas profits from

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ facilitating oil imports on behalf of the Syrian regime and uses his

s/links: Bajaa Trading Services LLC, Qudrah Trading, relations with the regime to obtain preferential dealings and

Tafawoq Tourism Projects Company, Top Business, treatment.

Yang King, Al-Aziz Group

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

Leading businessperson with personal and family business interests

and activities in multiple sectors of the Syrian economy, including

Date of birth: 11.3.1976

through Aman Holding (formerly known as the Aman Group).

Through Aman Holding, he benefits financially from access to

Nationality: Syrian

commercial opportunities and supports the Assad regime,

including through involvement in the regime-backed

Passport Number: 06010274747

development of Marota City. Since 2012, he has also been

Position: General Manager of ASM International General Manager of ASM International Trading LLC.

General Trading LLC (ASM International Trading) He is also associated with his brother Samer Foz, who has been

designated by the EU since January 2019 as a leading

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ businessperson operating in Syria and for supporting or

s/links: EU-designated Samer Foz; EU-designated benefiting from the regime.

Aman Holding (Aman Damascus Joint Stock Com­

pany); ASM International General Trading LLC

(ASM International Trading)

17.2.2020

Gender: male

Head of the local branch of the National Defence Force in Homs (a

regime militia - Shabiha). Responsible for its participation in the

(a.k.a. Saqr, Saqer; As'ad, Asaad, Nationality: Syrian

brutal repression of the civilian population in Syria. Through his

Asad; Al-Rustom, Al-Rostom;

militia, Saqr Rustom is responsible for multiple war profiteering

Position: Head of National Defence Force in Homs schemes and is therefore benefiting from and supporting the Syrian

‫ ﺻﻘﺮ ﺃﺳﻌﺪ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﺘﻢ‬,‫)ﺻﻘﺮ ﺭﺳﺘﻢ‬

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ regime. Associated with designated person Bassam Hassan, his

s/links: Damas Real Estate Development and Invest­ uncle, with whom he established the Damas Real Estate

Development and Investment LLC in order to invest in real estate

ment LLC

projects.

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Leading businessperson operating in Syria with multiple economic

Gender: male

interests, especially in the maritime and tourism sectors. As a major

Date of birth: 14.9.1955

(a.k.a. Abdelkader, Abd el Kader, Nationality: Syrian; Lebanese

shipping magnate and a close business associate of Rami Makhlouf

Abd al Kader, Abdul Kader Abd al

(regime supporter and cousin of Bashar al-Assad), Abdelkader

Qadr, Abdul Qadr; Sabra, Sabrah; Position: Owner of Sabra Maritime Agency; head of Sabra provides financial and economic support for the Syrian

‫)ﻋﺒﺪ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﺭ ﺻﺒﺮﺍ; ﻋﺒﺪ ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺩﺭ ﺻﺒﺮﻩ‬

the Syrian-Turkish Businessmen Council; founding regime, including through offshore companies. Abdelkader Sabra

partner of Phoenicia Tourism Company; President also benefits from his ties to the regime, which have allowed him to

of the Chamber of Maritime Navigation in Syria

expand his activities in the real estate sector. He is also involved in

money laundering and commercial activities in support of the

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ Syrian regime and its associates.

s/links:

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(a.k.a. ‫)ﻋﺎﻣﺮ ﻓﻮﺯ‬

293. Abdelkader SABRA

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Phoenicia Tourism Company (‫;)ﺷﺮﻛﺔ ﻓﻴﻨﻴﻘﻴﺎ ﻟﻠﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ‬

Sabra Maritime Agency (‫)ﻛﺎﻟﺔ ﺻﺒﺮﻩ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺮﻳﺔ‬

Official Journal of the European Union

292. Saqr RUSTOM

EN

Gender: male

291. Amer FOZ

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Name

294. Khodr Ali TAHER

(a.k.a. ‫)ﺧﻀﺮ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻃﺎﻩ‬

Identifying information

Reasons

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EN

Leading businessperson operating across multiple sectors of the

Syrian economy, including private security, mobile phone retail,

Date of birth: 1976

hotel management, advertising services and domestic money

transfer.

Nationality: Syrian

Supports and benefits from the regime through cooperation in his

Position: Director and owner of Ella Media Ser- business activities and his involvement in smuggling and

vices; founding partner of Castle Security and Pro- profiteering activities. Khodr Ali Taher owns a number of

tection and of Jasmine Contracting Company; companies and has co-founded others. His involvement in

Chairman and founding partner of the Syrian Hotel business dealings with the regime includes entering into a joint

Management Company; Manager and owner of venture with the Syrian Transport and Tourism Company, of

which the Ministry of Tourism owns a two-thirds stake.

Ematel

Gender: male

Date of listing

17.2.2020

Name

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­

s/links:

295. Adel Anwar AL-OLABI

Gender: male

(a.k.a. Adel Anouar el-Oulabi, Adil Date of birth: 1976

Anwar al-Olabi; ‫)ﻋﺎﺩﻝ ﺃﻧﻮﺭ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﺒﻲ‬

Nationality: Syrian

Leading businessperson benefiting from and supporting the

regime. Vice Chairman of Damascus Cham Holding Company

(DCHC), the investment arm of the Governorate of Damascus

managing the properties of the Governorate of Damascus and

implementing the Marota City project.

Position: Vice Chairman of Damascus Cham Hold­ Adel Anwar Al-Olabi is also the Governor of Damascus, appointed

ing Company (DCHC); Governor of Damascus

by Bashar Al-Assad in November 2018. As Governor of Damascus

and Vice Chair of DCHC, he is responsible for efforts to implement

regime policies of developing expropriated land in Damascus

(including Decree No. 66 and Law No. 10), most notably through

the Marota City project.

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Official Journal of the European Union

Citadel for Protection; Guard and Security Services

(Castle Security and protection); Ematel LLC (Ematel

Communications); Syrian Hotel Management Com­

pany; Jasmine Contracting Company

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Name

‘77.

Identifying information

Reasons

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EN

Type of entity: private company

Al Qatarji Company

Prominent company operating across multiple sectors of the Syrian

(a.k.a. Qatarji International Group; Business sector: import/export; trucking; supply of economy. By facilitating fuel, arms and ammunition trade between

Al-Sham and Al-Darwish Com- oil and commodities

the regime and various actors including ISIS (Daesh) under the

pany;

Khatirji/Katarji/Katerji Name of Director/Management: Hussam AL-QA­ pretext of importing and exporting food items, supporting militias

TIRJI, CEO (EU-designated)

Group; ‫ﺷﺮﻛﺔ ﻗﺎﻃﺮﺧﻲ‬/‫)ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﺔ‬

fighting alongside the regime and taking advantage of its ties with

Ultimate beneficial owner: Hussam AL-QATIRJI the regime to expand its commercial activity, Al Qatarji Company –

(EU-designated)

whose board is headed by designated person Hossam Qatarji, a

member of the Syrian People’s Assembly – supports and benefits

from the Syrian regime.

Date of listing

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2. The following entities are added to the list set out in Section B (entities) of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP:

Registered address: Mazzah, Damascus, Syria

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­

s/links:

78.

Damascus Cham Holding Company Type of entity: Public-owned company under pri­ Damascus Cham Holding Company was established by the regime

vate law

as the investment arm of the Governorate of Damascus in order to

(a.k.a. Damascus Cham Private

manage the properties of the Governorate of Damascus and

Business sector: Real estate development

Joint Stock Company;

implement the Marota City project, a luxurious real estate project

Name of Director/Management:

‫)ﺍﻟﻘﺎﺑﻀﺔ ﺍﻟﺸﺎﻡ ﺩﻣﺸﻖ‬

based on expropriated land under Decree No. 66 and Law No. 10 in

Adel Anwar AL-OLABI, vice chairman of the Board particular.

of Directors and governor of Damascus (EU-desig­

nated)

Ultimate beneficial owner: Governorate of Damas­

cus

Relatives/business associates/entities or partner­ By managing the implementation of Marota City, Damascus Cham

Holding (whose Vice-Chair is the Governor of Damascus) supports

s/links:

and benefits from the Syrian regime and provides benefits to

Rami Makhlouf (EU-designated); Samer Foz (EU-de­

businesspeople with close ties to the regime who have struck

signated); Mazen Tarazi (EU-designated);

lucrative deals with this entity through public-private partnerships.

Talas Group, owned by businessman Anas Talas

(EU-designated); Exceed Development and Invest­

ment Company, owned by private investors Hayan

Mohammad Nazem Qaddour, and Maen Rizk Allah

Haykal (both EU-designated); Khaled Al-Zubaidi and

Nader Qalei (both EU-designated)

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Official Journal of the European Union

Arvada/Arfada Petroleum Company JSC

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قرار تنفيذي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بإضافة ثمانية رجال أعمال وكيانين إلى عقوبات سورية، منهم: ماهر برهان الدين الإمام، وسيم القطان، عبد القادر صبرة، صقر رستم، عامر فوز، خضر علي طاهر، عادل العلبي.