PLACEMENT REPORT: OP-ED ON TERRORISM FINANCING AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 005142 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),EB (EAWAYNE),NEA/ARP (DBERNS), NEA/P NEA/ARPI FOR SWALKER, EB FOR JSALOOM, EB/ESC/TFS JCLARK, S/CT FOR GNOVIS AND TKUSHNER LONDON FOR LTSOU TREASURY FOR OFAC WERNER NSC FOR JZARATE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER KPAO ETTC KTFN PINS CVIS AMGT AFSI KSEP OIIP, XF, KU SUBJECT: PLACEMENT REPORT: OP-ED ON TERRORISM FINANCING AND KUWAIT CUSTOMS' ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING CONFERENCE REF: A) STATE 00219945 B) KUWAIT 5082 1.As a result of forwarding the text of the op-ed on Terrorism Financing by Assistant Secretary E. Anthony Wayne, two Kuwaiti English-language newspapers published the complete text on Thursday, Dec 8, 2005. 2.The Daily Star, the English-language sister publication of Al-Watan Arabic newspaper, that boasts the largest est distribution figures in Kuwait, ran the op-ed on the front page. The headline read, "Disrupting Terrorists' Support -- an Ounce of Prevention." 3.The Kuwait Times, which has a distribution of approximately 40,000 copies per day, published the op-ed piece on page 18. The headline read, "Disrupting Cash Flow of Terrorists." 4.This timely op-ed piece appeared in both publications just prior to the Ambassador's speech on the topic at the opening ceremony of the four-day anti-money laundering conference hosted by Kuwait Customs December 11-14. ¶5. Kuwaiti Arabic-language press reported extensively on the conference held at the Arab Monetary Fund building. Ambassador LeBaron's remarks were quoted in four of the five major daily newspapers with photos of him with the Director-General of the Kuwaiti Public Authority for Customs. Al-Qabas, p. 22, 12/12/05, titled "LeBaron: Do Not Delay Legislation to Combat Terrorism" Conference on money laundering kicks off with h cooperation with American Customs. Transfer of capital in the form of cash requires vigilant international cooperation. The American Ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron called on Kuwait to not delay implementing procedures and legislation that combats the growing threat of terrorism and drying up its resources. He also pointed to money laundering and that the most important issue is enforcement of the legislation. The American Ambassador spoke at the opening of the Conference on Combating Money Laundering and Terror Funding yesterday with Mr. Ibrahim Ghanem, Director-General of the customs authority, representing the ministry of finance along with delegates from the American border patrol and customs agency. Al-Rai Al-Aam, p. 49, 12/12/05 Al-Ghanim: "'Customs' Creates an Anti-money Laundering Unit with American Cooperation" LeBaron: Kuwait has become a partner to America in the fight against terrorism and money laundering. Strict procedures at the airport soon and scrutiny for those carrying more than 3,000 Dinars. The Director-General of the Public Authority for Customs announced that currently there is an effort to create a unit specializing in combating money laundering in cooperation with the American border patrol and Customs agency. Throughout the conference American experts and officials representing the Customs agency and border patrol participated by showing a number of studies on the work they have accomplished to combat terrorism in the United States of America. Al-Seyassah, p. 21, 12/12/05 Al-Ghanim: "Anti-money Laundering Unit with American Help" The Director-General of the Public Authority for Customs Ibrahim Al-Ghanim revealed that plans are now in motion to create an anti-money laundering unit in cooperation with the Customs and Border Patrol of the United States of America. Al-Ghanim also stated that money laundering operations began in Kuwait in 2002 and that the government is serious about combating it and the evidence for this is the presence of an expert from the American Customs working with us as part of a team to investigate and collect information on money laundering and terror funding. KUWAIT 00005142 002 OF 002 Al-Watan, p. 51, 12/12/05 "American Ambassador Reaffirms Kuwait Participation in Drying up Terror Funding Resources; Calls on the National Council to Expedite Ratification of More Legislation" Director-General of the Public Authority for Customs Ibrahim Al-Ghanim confirmed that Kuwait is free of money laundering pointing to the scrutiny which the Public Authority for Customs places on every import and export and it now watches carefully diamond and gold sales. He also stated that there an international determination on combating the funding of terrorism and money laundering at the same time as terrorist attacks are funded through smuggling money, drugs, counterfeit money, or even imitated products. He added that in Kuwait there are laws and the existence of a national committee helped in catching four operations in two years and that they scrutinize everything looking for dirty money. LEBARON