BRASILIA TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002453 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS STATE FOR S/CT, INL/C, IO/PHO TREASURY FOR OFAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PREL BR EFIN KTFN KVPR PTER SUBJECT: BRASILIA TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER REF: STATE 201391 ¶1. (U) Per Reftel, Brasilia's Terrorism Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO) is DCM Phil Chicola. The TFCO Deputy is Econ Officer J. Andrew Plowman. The following answers are keyed to the questions in reftel paragraph 5. a) Contact Information: DCM Chicola: (55-61) 312-7445; ChicolaPT@state.gov. Econ Officer Plowman: (55-61) 312- ¶7470. PlowmanJA@state.gov b) (SBU) Terrorism Finance is included in the monthly Homeland Security Working Group (HSWG) meetings, chaired by the DCM or by NAS. c) (SBU) The HSWG brings together law enforcement and policy agencies at post to exchange information, including about TF- related training programs and exchanges. The Deputy TFCO has created and maintains a database of these programs as a reference, based in part on the information exchanged in the HSWG meetings. Post has found it useful to hold its Visas Viper Committee meetings at the same time. d) (SBU) Post has found the circulation by cable of the informal TF Coalition-building sub-group meeting minutes to be a useful tool for understanding what Washington is thinking. We encourage more of this informal exchange, including information on other meetings. e) (SBU) TF is not sufficiently on the radar screen with the public in Brazil. With an eye to public affairs on this topic, this embassy would like to place one or more authoritative opinion pieces over the bylines of relevant senior officials in the Brazilian media. Post also is planning the use of International Visitor and Voluntary Visitor grants in the education of relevant high-level embassy contacts. f) (U) Neither the TFCO nor his Deputy have received TF training. g) (SBU) Post continues to work with an S/CT allotment (administered by INL/C) and in cooperation with the OAS to assist in the modernization of Brazil's financial intelligence unit, COAF. We have delivered analytical software and some computer equipment to COAF under this effort, and OAS will be providing training. Since COAF is but a small part of the anti-terror finance process in Brazil, Post continues to believe it would be beneficial to use some of the remaining monies under this allotment in ways that would foster interagency cooperation among the relevant Brazilian agencies, an acknowledged weakness in their system. Potential uses include providing training or exchanges for an interagency group. Post requests Washington flexibility on this point. DANILOVICH