Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU1246
2008-12-22 06:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

MOLDOVA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

Tags:  PTER ASEC MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #1246/01 3570649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220649Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7445
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CHISINAU 001246 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT AND EUR/UMB
NCTC FOR RHONDA SHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS CHISINAU 001246

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT AND EUR/UMB
NCTC FOR RHONDA SHORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVA: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM


1. Moldova is not a safe haven for terrorists or
terrorist groups. No acts of international
terrorism of major significance have occurred in
Moldova. Moldova is not designated as a state
sponsor of terrorism. The Moldovan government
continued to manage its counterterrorism strategy
based on Moldova's 2003-2008 National Action Plan
on Combating Terrorism.


2. Moldovan support for counterterrorism in 2008
included the deployment of servicemen to Iraq for
humanitarian demining operations. The Moldovan
demining contingent consisting of twenty personnel
will return home in late December 2008. The
Moldovan Ministry of Defense has one liaison
officer deployed to CENTCOM headquarters. In
2008, Embassy Chisinau and the Moldovan
government, specifically the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, did not conduct any joint
counterterrorism training exercises like those
which had been done the previous year.


3. Moldova continued to work on implementation of
its obligations under UNSCR 1373, Executive Order
13224 (the Terrorism Finance Executive Order),and
provisions related to terrorist financing. The
Moldovan government openly welcomes information
regarding terrorist financing from the USG and
other bodies and actively applies such information
in its monitoring efforts through its Center for
Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (CCECC).
One development in 2008 which will aid Moldova's
counterterrorism efforts is its joining of the
Egmont Group of financial intelligence units on
May 20.


4. In 2008, the CCECC issued a decree regarding
actions to be taken to enforce the provisions of
the Law on Preventing and Combating Money
Laundering and Terrorism. The CCECC decree listed
entities worthy of particular focus due to
possible money laundering and/or terrorist
financing concerns. These entities include
countries that do not have legal provisions
against terrorist financing, and persons, groups,
and entities identified as participating in
terrorist activities. The decree was developed on
the basis of Moldova's national interests and from
U.S. and UN lists of designated terrorists.


5. On December 5, the Moldovan parliament ratified
a blueprint on cooperation with the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS) states in combating
terrorism. This document was originally signed in
August 2005 and provides for joint measures aimed
at the prevention and counter-action of terrorism
and extremism. The document allows for the
exchange of information on combating terrorism
between CIS states, and provides for the
extradition of persons suspected of financing or
committing terrorist actions. The Moldovan
parliament also ratified the specific program on
CIS member states' cooperation in combating
terrorism and extremism for 2008-2010. This
three-year program reflects the activities which
were included in the blueprint.


6. The separatist-controlled Transnistria region
of Moldova remained a potential area of concern.
Moldovan law enforcement worked hard to track the
whereabouts and activities of individuals moving
in and out of Transnistria, an area where central-
government police and security services are rarely
able to operate. Some of these individuals moving
in and out of Transnistria were foreign students
who remained in Moldova illegally, as the
government lacked the resources to deport them
when their visas expired. Corruption was endemic,
and it was easy to obtain false travel documents
in both Transnistria and Moldova. Embassy could
not ascertain whether formal or informal
cooperation on counterterrorism between Moldova
and the separatist region of Transnistria took
place.


7. The U.S. Embassy does not maintain liaison
relationships or contacts with Transnistrian law
enforcement and/or security service personnel.
Embassy Chisinau requested informally a meeting
with Transnistrian public-security personnel, but
has received no response. To date, the United
States has not obtained any information about
known terrorist organizations or terrorists
operating from or within this region.


8. Law enforcement and intelligence officials had
the authority to intercept wire, oral, and
electronic communications, but the investigator
was required first to obtain prosecutorial
concurrence and authorization from a judge. A
specific section in the Prosecutor General's
Office would handle any terrorism-related case.
The primary investigative body in counterterrorism
cases is the Information and Security Service
(SIS),Moldova's intelligence service. In 2006,
SIS was given the governmental lead to establish
and manage a special Counterterrorism Center.
Substantial assistance from the American Embassy's
law enforcement assistance programs aid Moldovan
efforts to impede the ability of terrorists and
other citizens without proper documents to cross
national borders. The programs also facilitated
automation at ports of entry to ensure greater
security of passports and travel documents.

CHAUDHRY