Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BERN1218
2006-06-23 14:59:00
SECRET
Embassy Bern
Cable title:
(S) SWISS AIMING TO PREVENT MEDIA TORNADO ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSW #1218 1741459 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 231459Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BERN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2557 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0660 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 7423 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0029 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0378 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2024 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0575 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1312 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 3001 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 4039 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0642 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T BERN 001218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, DAS GLASER, SERAFINI AND SHARMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2016
TAGS: PTER EFIN SZ
SUBJECT: (S) SWISS AIMING TO PREVENT MEDIA TORNADO ON
TERRORIST FINANCE TRACKING PROGRAM
REF: SECSTATE 103650
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Carol Urban, E.O. 12958, Reasons 1
.4 (B) and (D)
S E C R E T BERN 001218
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, DAS GLASER, SERAFINI AND SHARMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2016
TAGS: PTER EFIN SZ
SUBJECT: (S) SWISS AIMING TO PREVENT MEDIA TORNADO ON
TERRORIST FINANCE TRACKING PROGRAM
REF: SECSTATE 103650
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Carol Urban, E.O. 12958, Reasons 1
.4 (B) and (D)
1. (S) Charge d'Affairs a.i. Carol Urban met with Department
of Finance (EFD),Director for Financial Markets, Rene Weber
to deliver points in REF A mid-afternoon June 23, 2006. The
Charge highlighted the legal safeguards and auditing that are
in place in the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program and urged
EFD to read through the background information thoroughly and
contact the Embassy if there were additional questions.
Weber said he would brief Finance Minister Merz, who was
unavailable to meet with the Charge due to parliamentary
debate, and contact the Embassy with any concerns.
2. (S) Weber relayed a list of questions where EFD believes
Swiss parliamentarians or the Swiss cabinet might seek
answers.
-- How often does SWIFT transfer information (weekly,
monthly)?;
-- Does the G-10 have oversight and how often is the G-10
briefed on the activities under the TFTP?;
-- In regard to wire transfers and FATF Special
Recommendation 7, what, if any, additional information is
provided on wire transfers?;
-- How does the SWIFT audit function and what is done in the
instance of a disagreement?; and
-- Did the G-10 jointly approach SWIFT for the FATF program
or did the USG approach SWIFT unilaterally?
3. (S) Weber emphasized that the Department of Finance does
not want this issue to become a "media tornado." The Swiss
have been and are involved in the TFTP, support combating
terrorism finance and thus EFD won't criticize the program.
The Charge agreed that minimizing the play this story gets in
the media would be positive.
4. (S) Embassy has scheduled a meeting with the Department of
Foreign Affairs State Secretary Michael Ambuehl for Monday.
The State Secretary has been in meetings with the Foreign
Minister most of Friday, but we have briefed his staff on the
subject matter.
5. (S) Embassy Bern appreciates Washington's efforts to
provide timely answers to the questions posed by the
Department of Finance so that we can assist the Swiss in
properly briefing their cabinet and interested
parliamentarians.
Urban
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY, DAS GLASER, SERAFINI AND SHARMA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2016
TAGS: PTER EFIN SZ
SUBJECT: (S) SWISS AIMING TO PREVENT MEDIA TORNADO ON
TERRORIST FINANCE TRACKING PROGRAM
REF: SECSTATE 103650
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Carol Urban, E.O. 12958, Reasons 1
.4 (B) and (D)
1. (S) Charge d'Affairs a.i. Carol Urban met with Department
of Finance (EFD),Director for Financial Markets, Rene Weber
to deliver points in REF A mid-afternoon June 23, 2006. The
Charge highlighted the legal safeguards and auditing that are
in place in the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program and urged
EFD to read through the background information thoroughly and
contact the Embassy if there were additional questions.
Weber said he would brief Finance Minister Merz, who was
unavailable to meet with the Charge due to parliamentary
debate, and contact the Embassy with any concerns.
2. (S) Weber relayed a list of questions where EFD believes
Swiss parliamentarians or the Swiss cabinet might seek
answers.
-- How often does SWIFT transfer information (weekly,
monthly)?;
-- Does the G-10 have oversight and how often is the G-10
briefed on the activities under the TFTP?;
-- In regard to wire transfers and FATF Special
Recommendation 7, what, if any, additional information is
provided on wire transfers?;
-- How does the SWIFT audit function and what is done in the
instance of a disagreement?; and
-- Did the G-10 jointly approach SWIFT for the FATF program
or did the USG approach SWIFT unilaterally?
3. (S) Weber emphasized that the Department of Finance does
not want this issue to become a "media tornado." The Swiss
have been and are involved in the TFTP, support combating
terrorism finance and thus EFD won't criticize the program.
The Charge agreed that minimizing the play this story gets in
the media would be positive.
4. (S) Embassy has scheduled a meeting with the Department of
Foreign Affairs State Secretary Michael Ambuehl for Monday.
The State Secretary has been in meetings with the Foreign
Minister most of Friday, but we have briefed his staff on the
subject matter.
5. (S) Embassy Bern appreciates Washington's efforts to
provide timely answers to the questions posed by the
Department of Finance so that we can assist the Swiss in
properly briefing their cabinet and interested
parliamentarians.
Urban