TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER AT EMBASSY

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000847 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, INL/C, IO/PHO, EAP/ANP TREASURY FOR OFAC SENSITIVE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER NZ KVRP SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER AT EMBASSY WELLINGTON REF: STATE 201391 (SBU) Keyed to request in reftel, Paragraph 5: a) Embassy Wellington's Terrorism Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO) is: David R. Burnett Deputy Chief of Mission Tel: 64-4-462-6101 e-mail: burnettDR@state.gov Post's deputy TFCO is: Joy Yamamoto Economic Officer Tel: 64-4-462-6182 e-mail: yamamotoJO@state.gov b) Post's DCM -- as its TFCO -- chairs terrorist finance meetings. As a SEP post, Embassy Wellington has found it efficient to include both terrorist finance and law enforcement issues in both scheduled and informal meetings, as necessary. We had not formally included terrorist finance issues in our Visas Viper Committee meetings, but are doing so now. c) Because the New Zealand government has taken a concerted approach to fighting terrorist financing, we have focused on ensuring that it has the information and training required for its efforts. While we have achieved a good flow of information, we have been less successful in identifying appropriate training opportunities. d) Although post also coordinates with Legatt at Embassy Canberra as appropriate, we are not involved in regional meetings. e) Post has engaged in limited public information efforts on terrorist financing. These efforts have included distributing the State Department e-journal "The Global War on Terrorist Finance" to Embassy contacts. The distribution list included appropriate officials from the Ministries of Justice, Police, Defense and Foreign Affairs. Interested media and academics also received copies. Post would welcome further suggestions. f) Both TFCO and deputy have not received FSI or other training on combating terrorist financing. g) Post would welcome information on opportunities for training of New Zealand nationals in fighting terrorist financing. BURNETT