2008: COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 120019 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS AEMR SUBJECT: 2008: COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM ¶1. THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR PREPARING "COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM (CRT) 2008", WHICH IS DUE TO CONGRESS BY APRIL 30, 2009. 2.WE RECOMMEND THAT "COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 2007" BE THE STARTING POINT FOR THIS YEAR'S EXERCISE, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2007 SCT NOTES THAT IT WILL ONLY ACCEPT POST SUBMISSIONS IN NARRATIVE FORM; WE POINT TO THE ALGERIA AND UK REPORTS AS EXAMPLES OF THE REPORTING AND FORMAT WE SEEK. ¶3. POSTS' SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE UNCLASSIFIED. WE ENCOURAGE POSTS TO HAVE CLASSIFIED MATERIAL DECLASSIFIED WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, IF POSTS FIND IT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OR COMMENTARY, THEY SHOULD CLASSIFY SUCH MATERIAL SEPARATELY BY PARAGRAPH. ¶4. EACH POST IS REQUESTED TO REPORT MAJOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS OR CHANGES LIKELY TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF TERRORISTS TO ATTACK OR OPERATE IN THE RELEVANT COUNTRY, INCLUDING USING TERRITORY AS A SAFE HAVEN. WE ALSO ASK YOU TO REPORT CHANGES OR TRENDS THAT EMERGE WHEN COMPARING LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TERRORISM/COUNTERTERRORISM IN 2008 VERSUS 2007. SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE NLT COB MONDAY, DECEMBER 22. SINCE THE REPORT COVERS CALENDAR YEAR 2008, SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS OCCURRING AFTER POST SUBMITS ITS CABLE AND DECEMBER 31, 2008, SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN AN ADDENDUM FOR SUBMISSION DURING THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF 2009. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEPARTMENT MUST TRANSMIT THE 2008 REPORT TO CONGRESS BY APRIL 30, 2009. GIVEN THE EXTENSIVE CLEARANCE AND COORDINATION REQUIRED BY THIS REPORT, COUPLED WITH AN INFLEXIBLE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE, AND THE SHORT LEAD TIME BETWEEN THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR AND THE APRIL 30 DEADLINE, WE ARE UNDER STRICT TIME CONSTRAINTS TO INCORPORATE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS INTO A PRODUCT THAT IS THE DEFINITIVE USG PUBLIC DOCUMENT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. ¶5. PLEASE NOTE THAT 2008 TECHNICAL AND STYLISTIC GUIDELINES ARE FORTHCOMING. INSTRUCTIONS WILL INCLUDE: (A) LEGISLATION AND MANDATED REQUIREMENTS; (B) A 2008 CRT REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST; (C) STYLE GUIDELINES (VOICE, SPELLING, TRANSITIONAL LANGUAGE, ETC.) WE URGE YOU TO REVIEW THESE GUIDELINES, BECAUSE WE CAN LOSE HOURS OF TIME ON CONTINUITY ISSUES, SUCH AS THE SPELLING OF AL-QA'IDA, HIZBALLAH, COUNTERTERRORISM (ONE WORD),AND SAFE HAVEN (TWO WORDS). ¶6. THE DEPARTMENT WILL DEPEND ON POSTS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS AND WILL ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER TO COMPILE ALL REQUESTED INFORMATION. WE ASK POSTS TO CONSIDER FOUR DISTINCT (BUT SOMETIMES OVERLAPPING) CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION: -- GENERAL ASSESSMENT -- SAFE HAVENS ASSESSMENT -- TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS -- FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION EACH POST SHOULD REVIEW THE DESCRIPTION OF EACH CATEGORY OF INFORMATION BELOW TO DETERMINE IF LAST YEAR'S REPORT REQUIRES UPDATING. ¶7. GENERAL ASSESSMENT. THE ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM (CRT) IS REQUIRED TO INCLUDE DETAILED ASSESSMENTS ON EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY (A) IN WHICH ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE OCCURRED; (B) THAT IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM (CUBA, IRAN,SUDAN AND SYRIA); OR (C) THAT IS OTHERWISE DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY TO BE SUBJECT TO THE REPORT. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE: --A REVIEW OF THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE: AN ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN EACH COUNTRY, INCLUDING CHANGES IN THE TECHNOLOGY TERRORISTS USED, METHODS AND TARGETS OF ATTACK, DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON TERRORISTS; PASSAGE AND/OR IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGISLATION PERTAINING TO TERRORISM OR TERROR FINANCE. INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS RADICALIZATION,SUCH AS OUTREACH TO/INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUES WITH IMMIGRANT,ETHNIC,AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES; PROGRAMS TO REHABILITATE AND REINTEGRATE TERRORISTS INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY. EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH/IMPROVE BORDER SECURITY, INCLUDING BIOMETRICS, FOR EXAMPLE. CT PARTICIPATION IN RELEVANT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPINGS FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE (E.G. OSCE, ASEAN, GCC, AND OTHERS). AN OVERVIEW OF EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN SUPPORT OF COUNTERTERRORISM CAPACITY BUILDING IN OTHER STATES. REGARDING UN PARTICIPATION, ONLY LEADERSHIP STEPS NEED BE INCLUDED. WE INCLUDE A MATRIX OF ALL COUNTRIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES TO THE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND PROTOCOLS, SO THIS INFORMATION NEED NOT BE INCLUDED IN POST SUBMISSION. -- THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN EACH COUNTRY RELATING TO TERRORISM AFFECTING U.S. CITIZENS OR FACILITIES THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS, INCLUDING RESPONSES TO EXTRADITION REQUESTS. -- SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT, IF ANY, FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, AND PARTICULARLY TO SPECIFIC TERRORIST OR UMBRELLA GROUPS, TO INCLUDE: ¶A. POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT; ¶B. DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION AND DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES; ¶C. PROVIDING SAFE HAVEN TO TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST GROUPS (I.E., GROUPS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM); ¶D. PROVIDING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, OR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING OR DEVELOPING SUCH WEAPONS, TO TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST GROUPS; ¶E. POSITIONS (SUCH AS VOTING RECORDS) ON MATTERS RELATING TO TERRORISM IN THE UNGA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES. ¶8. SAFE HAVEN ASSESSMENTS. PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILED ASSESSMENTS WITH RESPECT TO EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY BEING USED AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR TERRORISTS OR TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. UNDER THE STATUTORY DEFINITION [TITLE 22 OF THE UNITED STATE CODE SECTION 2656F(D)(5)]: SAFE HAVEN IS AN AREA IN THE TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY THAT IS USED BY A TERRORIST OR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION TO CARRY OUT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TRAINING, FUNDRAISING, FINANCING, AND RECRUITMENT, OR AS A TRANSIT POINT, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH EXPRESSLY CONSENTS TO, OR WITH KNOWLEDGE, ALLOWS, TOLERATES, OR DISREGARDS SUCH USE OF ITS TERRITORY AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO A DETERMINATION UNDER SECTION 405(J)(1)(A) OF THE APPENDIX TO TITLE 50 [COUNTRIES SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM ON THE EXPORT CONTROL LIST], SECTION 2371(A) OF TITLE 22 [COUNTRIES THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE DETERMINES WILLFULLY AID OR ABET THE INTERNATIONAL PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS]. SAFE HAVEN ASSESSMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE: -- THE EXTENT OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ON THE TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY. -- THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNTRY: ¶A. TO ELIMINATE TERRORIST SAFE HAVENS IN ITS TERRITORY, ¶B. TO COOPERATE WITH U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS, AND ¶C. TO PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF AND TRAFFICKING IN WMD IN AND THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF THE COUNTRY. NOTE: IF SAFE HAVEN DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR COUNTRY, THERE IS NO NEED TO STATE THAT. ¶9. INFORMATION ON TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. THIS INFORMATION IS PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER. POST CAN INCLUDE INFORMATION ON GROUPS ACTIVE IN THEIR COUNTRIES AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH ACTIVITY IN COUNTRY. IN THE CASE OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM (CUBA, IRAN, SYRIA, AND SUDAN),THIS INFORMATION SHOULD INCLUDE: -- SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO THOSE GROUPS DIRECTLY, OR PROVIDED IN SUPPORT OF THEIR ACTIVITIES; -- PROVISIONS OF SIGNIFICANT MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY TRAINING OR TRANSFER OF WEAPONS BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO THOSE GROUPS; -- PROVISION OF DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION OR PRIVILEGES BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO THOSE GROUPS; -- PROVISION BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OF SAFE HAVEN FROM PROSECUTION TO THESE GROUPS OR THEIR MEMBERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMISSION, ATTEMPT, OR PLANNING OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM; ¶10. INFORMATION ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION. THE CRT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CONCERNING EACH FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT THE U.S. HAS SOUGHT COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS WITH IN THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS: -- THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY IS COOPERATING IN APPREHENDING, CONVICTING, AND PUNISHING THE INDIVIDUAL(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACT. --THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTRY IS COOPERATING TO PREVENT FURTHER ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS IN THE COUNTRY. (THIS INFORMATION SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY FROM WHICH THE U.S. HAS SOUGHT COOPERATION IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS.) ¶11. POSTS SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION TO MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS FROM PRIOR YEARS THAT CONTINUED INTO 2008, INCLUDING RESOLUTION OR CONTINUATION OF TERRORIST PROSECUTIONS FOR ACTS COMMITTED IN PRIOR REPORTING YEARS. ¶12. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL POSTS TO DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN HOST GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AIMED AT SUPPRESSING TERRORIST ACTIVITY AND THOSE AIMED AT SUPPRESSING LEGITIMATE POLITICAL OPPOSITION OR DISSENT. ¶13. WHEN REPLYING: (A) SLUG FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE AND NCTC (AND INCLUDE AS AN INFO ADDRESSEE FOR NCTC: RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC); USE THE TAGS PTER, ASEC. (B) USE THE SUBJECT LINE: (NAME OF COUNTRY): 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM (C) PROVIDE AN EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT (INCLUDING E-MAIL ADDRESS). ¶14. DEPARTMENT GREATLY APPRECIATES THE VOLUME OF WORK THAT GOES INTO POST CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS EFFORT. S/CT IS PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS POSTS MAY HAVE TO ASSIST IN PREPARING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. PLEASE FORWARD ALL QUESTIONS TO S/CT RHONDA SHORE AT SHORERH2@STATE.GOV, ON THE OPEN NET SYSTEM. THROUGH ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING, WE EXPECT THIS YEAR'S COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM WILL REFLECT THE BEST EFFORT YET TO EXPLAIN THE CONTINUING THREAT. ¶15. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. RICE