Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI2529
2005-06-07 09:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE ONE STEP CLOSER TO RATIFYING TWO ANTI-TERROR

Tags:  PTER KTFN TC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002529 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/ESC/TFS FOR DNELSON, EB/EPPD
CTHOMPSON, S/CT TKUSHNER, IO/PSC JSCHWEITZER
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, OFAC FOR WERNER
JUSTICE FOR BSWARTZ, CALEXANDRE, MWARLOW
MANAMA FOR OFAC ATTACHE JBEAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KTFN TC
SUBJECT: UAE ONE STEP CLOSER TO RATIFYING TWO ANTI-TERROR
CONVENTIONS

REF: 2004 ABU DHABI 02591

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002529

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/ESC/TFS FOR DNELSON, EB/EPPD
CTHOMPSON, S/CT TKUSHNER, IO/PSC JSCHWEITZER
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, OFAC FOR WERNER
JUSTICE FOR BSWARTZ, CALEXANDRE, MWARLOW
MANAMA FOR OFAC ATTACHE JBEAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KTFN TC
SUBJECT: UAE ONE STEP CLOSER TO RATIFYING TWO ANTI-TERROR
CONVENTIONS

REF: 2004 ABU DHABI 02591


1. The UAE Cabinet of Ministers approved, on June 6, the
accession to two UN Conventions on Terrorism -- the 1999
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
and the 1997 Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist
Bombings. This decision brings the UAE one step closer to
formally acceding to the conventions, but the Federal Supreme
Council of Rulers now needs to issue a decree to formally
ratify the conventions. The Undersecretary for International
Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice told Econoff June 7
that "moving the two conventions through the UAE's
constitutional process will be smooth" and that formal
ratification "will only be a matter of time."


2. The Central Bank's representative to the UAE's National
Counter Terrorism Committee told econoff June 7 that the
committee had recommended the Cabinet adopt the two
conventions. He also noted that last year, when the UAE was
drafting its new counter terrorism law (Law No. 1 of 2004),
that it drew from the Convention for the Suppression of
Terrorist Financing, even though the UAE was not officially a
party to the convention. With the passage of Law No. 1 of
2004 (reftel) and the previously enacted anti-money
laundering law (Law No. 4 of 2002),UAE legislation is
already largely in line with the terror finance convention.


3. A June 7 "Gulf News" article quoted the Undersecretary for
International Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, "the
UAE has been a party to eight out of the twelve
anti-terrorism conventions. The UAE is exerting tremendous
efforts to combat terrorism either by developing its
legislation or through international cooperation...These two
conventions, especially the one for the suppression of the
financing of terrorism, are considered the most important
conventions in our fight against terrorism." The UAE is
considering acceding to the 1988 Convention on the Safety of
Maritime Navigation, and the 1988 Protocol on the Safety of
Fixed Platforms.
SISON