Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUDHABI51
2009-01-13 13:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
how-toP 131306Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1993 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE NCTC WASHINGTON DC 0023
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000051
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT/RHONDA SHORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN DCRM KHLS AEMR AE
SUBJECT: UAE: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: 08 State 120019
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000051
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT/RHONDA SHORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN DCRM KHLS AEMR AE
SUBJECT: UAE: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: 08 State 120019
1. Following is the text of Post's submission for the 2008 UAE
country report on terrorism.
Begin text:
United Arab Emirates
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) repeatedly
condemned terrorist acts in Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and elsewhere
in the region. In order to prevent extremist preaching in UAE
mosques, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments
provided prescribed guidelines for all Friday sermons, and monitored
compliance. The UAE worked to keep its education system free of
radical influences, emphasized social tolerance and moderation, and
sought peaceful solutions to regional crises.
The Container Security Initiative (CSI),which became operational at
Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port in the Emirate of Dubai in 2005, has
three U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers co-located with
the Dubai Customs Intelligence Unit at Port Rashid. On average, CSI
reviewed approximately 250 bills of landing each week, resulting in
about 20 non-intrusive inspections of U.S.-bound containers;
examinations were conducted jointly with Dubai Customs officers, who
shared information on trans-shipments from high risk areas,
including those originating in Iran.
The Visa Security Unit (VSU) became operational in 2006 (Dubai and
Abu Dhabi) and has four Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
officers assigned to the mission. VSU, in cooperation with the
Consular Sections, reviews all immigrant and non-immigrant visa
applications for terrorism concerns and other criminal and
administrative violations of law.
The UAE Government is generally cooperative in counterterrorism
coordination with the U.S. and we continued to have a successful
relationship. Nonetheless, cooperation on law enforcement matters
was hampered by the lack of a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT)
between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The UAE has
a cyber-crime law criminalizing the use of the Internet for
terrorist groups to "promote their ideologies and finance their
activities." The UAE has established a National Security Council
charged with formulating and implementing a national strategic
plan.
The UAE continued efforts to strengthen its institutional
capabilities to combat terror financing, but challenges remain. The
2008 MENA-FATF (Middle East North Africa Financial Action Task
Force) Mutual Evaluation Report for the UAE identified, for example,
a recommendation to amend the federal anti-money laundering law and
increase dedicated resources available to the Central Bank's
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Although the UAE has taken
important steps to address hawala remittances, further vigilance is
required.
The UAE Central Bank provided training programs to financial
institutions on money laundering and terrorist financing. The U.S.
has encouraged the UAE to implement additional measures to combat
Bulk Cash Smuggling (BCS),in particular from countries at higher
risk of terrorist finance activity. ICE has provided Dubai Customs
with BCS training for airport interdiction of contraband currency;
joint BCS operations have been proposed. The Department of Justice
also provided BCS training for prosecutors in Dubai.
The Central Bank initiated memoranda of understanding with regional
FIUs, and performed anti-money laundering training both locally and
regionally. The Central Bank investigated financial transactions and
froze accounts in response to internal investigations.
End text.
2. POC at Embassy Abu Dhabi is Pol Chief Al Magleby at e-mail:
maglebyar(at)state.gov.
OLSON
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT/RHONDA SHORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN DCRM KHLS AEMR AE
SUBJECT: UAE: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: 08 State 120019
1. Following is the text of Post's submission for the 2008 UAE
country report on terrorism.
Begin text:
United Arab Emirates
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) repeatedly
condemned terrorist acts in Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and elsewhere
in the region. In order to prevent extremist preaching in UAE
mosques, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments
provided prescribed guidelines for all Friday sermons, and monitored
compliance. The UAE worked to keep its education system free of
radical influences, emphasized social tolerance and moderation, and
sought peaceful solutions to regional crises.
The Container Security Initiative (CSI),which became operational at
Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port in the Emirate of Dubai in 2005, has
three U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers co-located with
the Dubai Customs Intelligence Unit at Port Rashid. On average, CSI
reviewed approximately 250 bills of landing each week, resulting in
about 20 non-intrusive inspections of U.S.-bound containers;
examinations were conducted jointly with Dubai Customs officers, who
shared information on trans-shipments from high risk areas,
including those originating in Iran.
The Visa Security Unit (VSU) became operational in 2006 (Dubai and
Abu Dhabi) and has four Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
officers assigned to the mission. VSU, in cooperation with the
Consular Sections, reviews all immigrant and non-immigrant visa
applications for terrorism concerns and other criminal and
administrative violations of law.
The UAE Government is generally cooperative in counterterrorism
coordination with the U.S. and we continued to have a successful
relationship. Nonetheless, cooperation on law enforcement matters
was hampered by the lack of a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT)
between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The UAE has
a cyber-crime law criminalizing the use of the Internet for
terrorist groups to "promote their ideologies and finance their
activities." The UAE has established a National Security Council
charged with formulating and implementing a national strategic
plan.
The UAE continued efforts to strengthen its institutional
capabilities to combat terror financing, but challenges remain. The
2008 MENA-FATF (Middle East North Africa Financial Action Task
Force) Mutual Evaluation Report for the UAE identified, for example,
a recommendation to amend the federal anti-money laundering law and
increase dedicated resources available to the Central Bank's
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Although the UAE has taken
important steps to address hawala remittances, further vigilance is
required.
The UAE Central Bank provided training programs to financial
institutions on money laundering and terrorist financing. The U.S.
has encouraged the UAE to implement additional measures to combat
Bulk Cash Smuggling (BCS),in particular from countries at higher
risk of terrorist finance activity. ICE has provided Dubai Customs
with BCS training for airport interdiction of contraband currency;
joint BCS operations have been proposed. The Department of Justice
also provided BCS training for prosecutors in Dubai.
The Central Bank initiated memoranda of understanding with regional
FIUs, and performed anti-money laundering training both locally and
regionally. The Central Bank investigated financial transactions and
froze accounts in response to internal investigations.
End text.
2. POC at Embassy Abu Dhabi is Pol Chief Al Magleby at e-mail:
maglebyar(at)state.gov.
OLSON