DUTCH TERRORIST FINANCE CONFERENCE MARCH 15-16

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000419 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, INL/C, IO/PSC STATE ALSO FOR EUR/PGI, EUR/ERA, EUR/UBI TREASURY FOR TFFC, OFAC JUSTICE FOR CRM/AFMLS NSC FOR ZARATE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KTFN ETTC PTER ECON EUN NL SUBJECT: DUTCH TERRORIST FINANCE CONFERENCE MARCH 15-16 REF: 05 THE HAGUE 2356 ¶1. The Dutch Finance Ministry will host on March 15-16 in The Hague an international conference on terrorist financing issues. This initiative was first raised during Treasury Secretary Snow's June 2005 meeting with Dutch Finance SIPDIS Minister Zalm (reftel). The U.S. Treasury Department, State, other interagency members, and Embassy The Hague have worked closely with the Dutch to ensure that this conference builds on other on-going international dialogues in this area. ¶2. The Dutch Finance Ministry has already extended invitations for delegations from EU member states, the United States (sent to Treasury),and other countries with counter-terrorist financing interests. For further information on the conference, please contact Embassy The Hague Economic Officer Karen Enstrom (enstromkl@state.gov). Post has emailed copies of the conference agenda and background information to State (EB/ESC/TFS, EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI, EUR/UBI, S/CT, IO/PSC, USEU). ¶3. The conference and its workshops will focus on improving the current counter-terrorist financing regime through enhanced information exchanges among domestic authorities, better communication within and between the private and public sectors, and a more conducive environment for the implementation of global standards by developing countries. The target audience is senior-level policy makers and experts in the field of terrorist financing from the private and public sector (e.g., ministries of Finance and Justice as well as Financial Supervisors and/or Financial Intelligence Units). The conference will also feature senior representatives and expert-level practitioners from the EU, UN, IMF, World Bank, Financial Action Task Force, Asian Pacific Group, academia, and financial institutions. Minister Zalm will lead a concluding session with Finance Ministers representing the international orientation of the conference. BLAKEMAN