LOCAL G-8 COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP MEETS

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004686 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015 TAGS: PTER ASEC UN JO SUBJECT: LOCAL G-8 COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP MEETS VISITING UN COUNTERTERRORISM EXECUTIVE DIRECTORATE TEAM Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The G-8 plus three (Australia, Switzerland, and Spain) Counterterrorism Action Group (CTAG) met in Amman June 20 to discuss the status of counterterrorism security assistance to Jordan. Representatives from the UN's Counterterrorism Executive Directorate (UNCTED) joined the CTAG members afterwards for a short meeting regarding the UNCTED team's visit to Jordan. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) CDA and Poloff attended the Amman CTAG meeting June 20 hosted by the Russian Embassy as current G-8 Chair. Russian Pol/C Aydar Aganin moderated the meeting, and informed the group that the GoJ had not formally approached Russia for CT assistance. He noted, however, that Jordanian security officials had stressed to him that border control was their biggest CT concern. Aganin was aware of Jordanian requests for x-ray and gamma ray scanners, and said the GoJ was in need of a border/entry-point database. European Union representative Klaus Heiberg stated that the EU had been formally approached by the GoJ regarding the establishment of a Financial Intelligence Unit, and that the EU was interested in working with Jordan's Central Bank and Public Security Department in this effort. Japanese Pol/C Yoichi Nakashima told the group that Japan had provided USD 15 million worth of equipment upgrades and x-ray scanners for use at Queen Alia International Airport based on a GoJ request. ¶3. (C) UNCTED team leader Ambassador Ruperez briefed the CTAG group that his team was visiting a number of locations in Jordan - including the Port of Aqaba, Queen Alia International Airport, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministries of Interior, Transportation, Finance and Justice, the Public Security Department and the General Intelligence Directorate - to assess Jordanian CT capabilities and needs. Ruperez said he was impressed by Jordanian commitment to CT initiatives and international obligations. He added that his team,s findings would be presented to the UNSC's CT committee in New York, and that a copy of the CTED report would later be made available to the GoJ. ¶4. (SBU) CTAG participants included: Germany, Ambassador Klaus Burkhardt; Russia, Pol/C Aydar Aganin; United Kingdom, Poloff Dr. George Williamson; Japan, Pol/C Yoichi Nakashima; European Union, Pol/C Claus Heiberg; Canada, DCM Phillippe Cousineau; Italy, Second Secreatary Emanuele Manzitti; Spain, DCM Juan Jose Escobar; and Switzerland, DCM Werner Dill. UNCTED team members included Ambassador Javier Ruperez, Seif El-Dawla, Samia Ladgham, and Elena Rigacci Hay. Rubinstein