ANDORRA: 2007 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS BARCELONA 000112 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT (RSHORE) AND EUR/WE (ESAMSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC SP AN SUBJECT: ANDORRA: 2007 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM REF: STATE 146856 ¶1. (U) The following submission provides Post's contribution to the Department's "Country Reports on Terrorism 2007" report. ¶2. (SBU) Andorra continues to be a supportive partner in the global war on terrorism. The government has cooperated to build law enforcement capacity, enhance border security, and combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Changes from previous year's reports are few as no significant domestic or internationally-related terrorism occurred in the country in ¶2007. The government of Andorra is neither a sponsor of terrorism nor does it provide safe haven to terrorist organizations. -- After September 11, 2001, the government of Andorra signed three conventions in the Council of Europe (Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption and the Civil Law Convention on Corruption) and two conventions in the United Nations (International convention on Suppression of the Finance of Terrorism and the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime),all still pending ratification. The government of Andorra continues to point to staff shortages for translations and other necessary paper work before they are ready for ratification in Parliament. Nonetheless the Andorran government has reiterated as well that ratification will take place within the current term of Parliament. -- Andorra joined the GRECO (Group of States Against Corruption) on January 26, 2005. Andorra is also member of Moneyval, the Council of Europe's group to fight money laundering. Since March 2003, Andorra is a signatory to the Geneva Convention on the prohibition of developing, producing, storage, and use of chemical weapons and also on their destruction. -- In September 2006 the Minister's Council approved the ratification of the Council of Europe's Convention on Terrorism prevention signed by the Andorrans in Warsaw on May 16, 2005. The Andorran Parliament ratified it last November. -- The Money Laundering Prevention Unit, a governmental organization aimed at detecting criminal organizations in the Principality, works closely with the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) and the Egmont Group. Andorra does not have stock exchange or casinos. Securities and real estate are very controlled and all such sources of income must be declared. -- In September 2005 a new Penal Code came into force. The Penal Code's article on terrorism has increased punishment of terrorist individuals or groups who can now be sentenced to twenty years in prison if found guilty. Penalties for money laundering and organized crime have also been increased. -- The government of Andorra's cooperation with U.S. antiterrorism efforts is marked by efforts to combat terrorist financing and through adherence to international antiterrorism conventions. -- The Andorran government sends financial support to the Together Foundation aimed at helping children affected by the war in the former Yugoslav Republic. The Andorran government makes a yearly voluntary contribution to the United Nations for the Peace Maintenance project. -- No U.S. citizen has suffered kidnapping or death in the preceding five years and no case has arisen in Andorra requiring government cooperation with the U.S to prevent acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens in the country. ¶3. (U) Consulate point of contact for Andorra is Consul General Todd D. Robinson. Office Telephone: (34) 932 802 227 ext. 203 Office fax: (34) 932 055 206 Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:robinsontd3@state.gov" robinsontd3@state.gov ROBINSON