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