Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1495
2004-09-29 13:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

EMBASSY MANAMA - TFCO RESPONSE

Tags:  BA ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PTER KTFN 
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UNCLAS MANAMA 001495 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, INL/C, IO/PHO, NEA/ARPI
TREASURY FOR JZARATE, DGLASER, OFAC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BA ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PTER KTFN
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MANAMA - TFCO RESPONSE

REF: (A) STATE 201391 (B) ROME 02381

UNCLAS MANAMA 001495

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, INL/C, IO/PHO, NEA/ARPI
TREASURY FOR JZARATE, DGLASER, OFAC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BA ECON EFIN ETTC PREL PTER KTFN
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MANAMA - TFCO RESPONSE

REF: (A) STATE 201391 (B) ROME 02381

1.(U) Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM),Susan Ziadeh, will
serve as the TFCO and Political/Economic Chief Steve Bondy
will serve as the Deputy TFCO. In addition the Office of
Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the
Treasury recently established its Regional Counter Terrorism
Attache (RCTA),Jason Beal, at Embassy Manama. While his
responsibilities are regional he will assist the TFCO and the
Post in its mission to combat the financing of terrorism in
Bahrain. Responses below are keyed to Ref A questions.


2. (U) a. The TFCO contact information is as follows:

TFCO
Susan Ziadeh
DCM
973-1724-2773
ZiadehSL@state.gov
ZiadehSL@state.sgov.gov

Deputy TFCO
Steve Bondy
Pol/Econ Chief
973-1724-2908
BondySC@state.gov
BondySC@state.sgov.gov

OFAC Regional Counter Terrorism Attach
Jason Beal
OFAC Attach
973-1724-2709
bealj@state.gov
bealjr@state.sgov.gov

b. The TFCO will chair monthly combating terrorism
financing meetings in conjunction with the Visa Viper
meetings. A representative from Pol/Econ, Regional Security,
Consular, and the OFAC-RCTA (Treasury) will attend the
meetings.

c. The meetings will initially focus on drafting a
baseline report on host country,s compliance with
international standards and implementation of those standards
(similar to Ref B). The TFCO team will also set priorities
in combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) for the next
year including working with the local financial intelligence
unit (FIU) to develop leads. The TFCO team will also work
with the GOB to identify problem areas in CFT and provide
guidance and assistance if necessary to resolve outstanding
issues. We will seek training support for GOB from
Washington when appropriate.


d. For regional cooperation Embassy Manama is in the
fortunate position of hosting the OFAC-RCTA. In his regional
role the OFAC-RCTA will develop contacts with the TFCOs in
the NEA region, including periodic visits. The OFAC-RCTA,
with assistance from posts in the region, will develop
evidentiary packages for possible designations of terrorists,
terrorist groups and their support networks. These
designation proposals will be submitted to the Policy
Coordination Committee on Terrorism Financing for approval
and action.

e. To promote public awareness, the TFCO Team will work to
advance the new regional anti-money laundering body - the
Middle East-North Africa Financial Action Task Force
(MENA-FATF) headquartered in Manama, Bahrain. This body will
promote international standards on anti-money laundering and
combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). MENA-FATF
will complete "mutual evaluations" of its members on the
international AML/CFT standards. The OFAC RCTA will
encourage regional Finance Ministry contacts to support this
new regional organization - its inaugural meeting will take
place November 29-30 in Manama, Bahrain. Post has also been
distributing the "Rewards for Justice" cards and matchbooks.
The Embassy will post on its website links to the OFAC site
and any recent actions.

f. The TFCO and Deputy have not received CFT training
from FSI or elsewhere.

g. Post has no requests from Washington at this time.

ZIADEH