Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE120019
2008-11-12 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

2008: COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Tags:  PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS AEMR 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 121557Z NOV 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 4047
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

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