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