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