BAHRAIN: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATING OFFICER

UNCLAS MANAMA 001497

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS FOR BADKINS, S/CT FOR TKUSHNER,
NEA/ARPI
TREASURY FOR DAS GLASER AND OFAC/RWERNER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KTFN KVPR EFIN ETTC PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATING OFFICER
(TFCO)

REF: STATE 175637

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TFCO AND DEPUTY
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1. Embassy Manama TFCO is Econoff Stephen Simpson, phone:
(973)1724-2986, unclassified email: SimpsonSC@state.gov, and
classified email: SimpsonSC@state.sgov.gov.


2. Deputy TFCO is OFAC Attache Jason Beal, phone:
(973)1724-2709, unclassified email: BealJ@state.gov and
classified email: BealJR@state.sgov.gov.

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TFCO COORDINATION
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3. Post would welcome regional TFCO meetings to improve
coordination among TFCO's, as suggested reftel. Such
meetings could feature representation from TFCOs, Washington
policy officials, and law-enforcement and banking officials,
as appropriate. TFCO names and contact information should be
distributed, allowing TFCOs to readily identify and reach out
to counterparts.


4. Post enjoys excellent State - Treasury/OFAC interaction.
Econoff and OFAC attache, who is present at post, coordinate
closely and Econoff provides back-up support for OFAC Attache
when he travels, maintaining communication with host
government on time-sensitive issues. An effort should be
made to invite TFCO participation at OFAC, FinCen and other
relevant USG conferences in the interest of enhanced
networking and information exchange.

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PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
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5. The Bahrain Monetary Agency and the Ministry of Interior's
Economic Crime Directorate each have public outreach
programs. In addition, Bahrain hosts the MENA-FATF. USG
recognition of and continued Public Affairs support for these
initiatives, in the way of Washington-generated fact sheets,
op-eds, and local press events, is beneficial.

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NEEDS OF POST
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6. Post commends the EB/Terrorism Finance and Economic
Sanctions intranet site for its broad inclusion of resources.
Post's local interlocutors are English-speaking, yet
Department-provided Arabic translations of talking points and
other materials have been warmly received and are culturally
appreciated. Washington's continued efforts to maintain and
expand such resources would be useful to us.


7. As noted above, Post requests contact information for
regional TFCOs. Front-channel best practices TFCO guidance,
perhaps drawing on worldwide feedback to reftel, would also
be useful.

MONROE