TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER (TFCO)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 003515 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS S/CT FOR PHILL INL/C/CP SPETERSON I/O/PSC FOR JSANDAGE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2016 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN KVPR PREL PTER SN SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER (TFCO) REF: STATE 181096 Classified By: Econ/Pol Chief Ike Reed. Reasons 1(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Post provides the following responses to reftel questions. ¶2. (SBU) TFCO Contact Information: TFCO Ike Reed Economic/Political Counselor Tel: (65) 6476-9424 Unclassified e-mail: ReedI@state.gov SIPDIS Classified e-mail: ReedHV@state.sgov.gov TFCO DEPUTY Paul Horowitz Senior Economic Officer Tel: (65) 6476-9344 Unclassified e-mail: HorowitzPD@state.gov SIPDIS Classified e-mail: HorowitzPD@state.sgov.gov ¶3. (SBU) Coordination. Post addresses terrorist finance agenda items, as appropriate, in a bi-weekly Law Enforcement Council (LEC) meeting in order to maximize inter-agency focus and coordination on these issues. The Deputy Chief of Mission chairs the LEC; both the TFCO and TFCO Deputy participate in these meetings. In terms of improving coordination among TFCOs and State and Treasury offices, we strongly recommend a regional option for the Washington three-day training course (PE-141). We had previously worked with Washington to host a pilot course in 2005 to take advantage of a large USG delegation's visit here for the FATF Plenary. The course was cancelled, however, due to lack of trainer availability. ¶4. (SBU) Singapore is a regional financial center and therefore an important participant in the effort to stop terrorist financing in Southeast Asia. Its first multi-billion dollar integrated resorts with casinos will open in early 2009. The government is in the process of revising its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) regulations for banks and other financial and non-financial institutions to conform to FATF recommendations. We are working to address shortcomings in Singapore's terrorist finance controls. To this end, Singapore officials continue to be interested in exchanging information with Washington-based experts about ways to strengthen their AML-CFT regime and to enhance law enforcement cooperation. Post has taken advantage of visits by a number of USG officials with responsibilities for AML/CFT issues. We have conducted terrorism finance-related training and assessments on several occasions with local law enforcement officials and appreciate Washington's support for future senior- and working-level interactions. ¶5. (C) Information requested reftel for use in CIA chart: -- National authority to freeze terrorist funds: YES -- Signed/Ratified UN Convention on Terrorism Financing: YES -- Implementation of UNSCRs 1267, 1373, 1390, and 1455: YES -- Adopted anti-money laundering legislation: YES -- Established Financial Intelligence Unit: YES -- Egmont member: YES -- FATF member: YES -- Issued a freeze order on terrorist-linked assets: YES -- Thorough search of financial institutions for terrorist assets: Regularly -- Timely sharing of terror finance information: Regularly -- Outreach to U.S. intelligence and law enforcement: Regularly HERBOLD