Uruguay: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000721


DEPT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE, WHA/BSC MARY DASCHBACH, AND NCTC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC UY
SUBJECT: Uruguay: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

REF: STATE 120019



1. The level of cooperation and intelligence sharing on
counterterrorism related issues greatly improved in 2008,
especially at the working level where officers in law
enforcement and security services recognized the importance of
conducting proactive investigations, sharing intelligence with
the United States, and working cooperatively with regional
partners. The government of Uruguay (GOU) generally cooperated
with the United States and international institutions on
counterterrorism efforts, and it has begun implementing a 2004
money laundering law more robustly. Uruguayan banking and law
enforcement agencies have mechanisms in place to identify
financial assets, individuals, and groups with links to
terrorism, but discovered neither terrorist assets in
Uruguayan financial institutions nor terrorist operatives in
Uruguay. In October, the parliament passed new legislation to
create a specialized organized crime unit to prosecute crimes
including terrorism and terrorist financing. The judges and
prosecutors were named in December and the unit will be
launched in 2009.


2. Uruguay's most notable contribution to the global fight
against terrorism, if only indirectly, is its substantial
commitment to UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Africa and
other regions, including a contingent to the Multinational
Force and Observers in the Sinai. Uruguay provides the
greatest number of UN peacekeepers per capita of any UN member
state. Although these efforts are not specifically focused on
fighting the GWOT, Uruguayan officials believe that using the
countryQs diplomatic and military resources to fight global
instability serves to address root causes of terrorism like
political, economic and social instability. In 2008 Uruguay
showed increased commitment in both in Haiti and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In Haiti, the GOU
added an Air Force element to conduct aerial surveillance and
assumed the port security mission with 16 new Boston Whaler
boats located at eight ports throughout Haiti. In the DRC,
the Uruguayan peacekeepers have been instrumental in
maintaining stability in the most difficult region and the GOU
recently extended participation for an additional year despite
some domestic criticism.


3. In 2008 Uruguay significantly increased participation in
joint military training. It hosted the Peacekeeping
Operations (PKO) South in September, took second place in the
ForceQs Commando Counter Terrorism Competition in the U.S. in
June, and it participated for the second time in the
multinational training exercise, PANAMAX in August. This is a
significant improvement over past yearsQ reluctance to engage
in security cooperation, and indicates that Uruguay is moving
beyond the aftermath of the thirteen-year period of military
dictatorship ending in 1985. Still, the government of Uruguay
is hesitant to fully participate in some joint military
training. Also, the various agencies involved in anti-
terrorism efforts need better coordination.


4. Uruguay is a member of the MERCOSUR Permanent Working
Group on Terrorism, together with Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Paraguay, and Bolivia. The group facilitates cooperation and
information sharing among countries combating terrorism. The
focus on the Tri-border region of Argentina, Paraguay, and
Brazil, expanded to the porous and scantily-monitored
Uruguayan-Brazilian border. National efforts to improve
border and port security are also underway, especially as they
relate to drug trafficking. For example, in 2008 the GOU
purchased a radar system that will extend control over the air
space to cover northern UruguayQs border with Brazil. Uruguay
was also active in a range of international counterterrorism
efforts, particularly in the Rio Group and the OAS.


5. Embassy Points of Contact: Pol/Econ officers Eric Theus,
theuse@state.gov; and Erin Markley, markleyen@state.gov.


MATTHEWMAN