TERRORISM FINANCING COORDINATING OFFICER

UNCLAS SANAA 002867 SIPDIS SENSITIVE PLEASE PASS TO EB/ESC/TFS JEAN CLARK, S/CT TODD KUSHNER, INL/C/CP STEVEN PETERSON,IO/PSC BETSY FITZGERALD, AND TREASURY/OFAC PAUL LURIE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC PREL KTFN KVPR YM TERFIN COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCING COORDINATING OFFICER REF: A. SECSTATE 175637 ¶B. SANAA 2151 1.(SBU) Embassy designated DCM Nabeel Khoury as Terrorist Financing Coordinating Officer as requested in Ref A cable. The DCM can be reached at phone number (967) 1-755-2212 or by email at khouryn-at-state.sgov.gov. Econoff Noah Siegel will serve as post's working-level point of contact. Mr. Siegel can be reached at phone number (967) 1-755-2152 or by email at siegelni-at-state.sgov.gov. ¶2. (SBU) The largest impediment to fighting terrorist financing in Yemen is lack of enforcement capacity and not a problem of public perception. (Ref B) The anti-money laundering unit at the Central Bank of Yemen is understaffed, and requires extensive training and technical support. As a result, commercial banks and hawala houses provide information to the CBY on a mostly voluntary basis. CBY computers are not networked to each other, much less the broader banking system. To address these deficiencies and strengthen the ROYG's ability to combat TF, post has sought funds from a variety of sources, including INL and the Terrorist Finance Working Group. ¶3. (SBU) Despite the limitations, the ROYG is actively involved in MENA-FATF proceedings, and cooperates with other Gulf states to coordinate efforts. Periodic meetings between regional TFCOs to correspond with MENA-FATF meetings would demonstrate to the ROYG a high level of engagement and help keep post current on regional issues. Post would also welcome regional training for the Deputy TFCO. Krajeski