COUNTERTERRORISM FINANCE: OPPORTUNITY FOR FINANCIAL

UNCLAS STATE 013407 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ECON EFIN PREL KCRM KTFN SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM FINANCE: OPPORTUNITY FOR FINANCIAL REGULATORY TRAINING MARCH 23-27, 2009 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6-8. ¶2. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will hold a Counterterrorism Financial Regulatory training course at the FDIC Training Facilities in Arlington, Virginia for participants from addressee countries. This training is funded by INL and S/CT, which co-chair the interagency Terrorist Finance Working Group. Washington asks Embassies to invite host governments to participate, and to provide names of attendees nominated for the course. The proposed dates for the training are March 23-27, 2009. Names of proposed participants are requested by close of business Washington time on February 19. Background ¶3. The CT Finance Regulatory Training Course is designed for financial sector supervisors and regulatory staff to increase their knowledge of how money laundering and terrorist financing transactions are perpetrated, and the controls that should be in place in financial institutions to detect and deter these actions. The course will provide a basic overview of anti-money laundering/counterterrorist financing (AML/CTF) examination techniques, tools, and case studies. The course is structured for multiple teams of examiners who will participate in practical exercises. The course is also designed as a train-the-trainer course that will provide attendees with the necessary tools to return to their own countries and train their colleagues. The course offers an excellent opportunity for countries to learn how to more effectively implement their respective AML/CTF programs. ¶4. In consultation with the host government, each post is encouraged to select up to five (5) officials to participate in this course. Designees should be regulatory or supervisory staff at government financial regulatory agencies such as the central bank who deal with AML/CTF compliance issues AND who would be able to train their colleagues in the material presented. They should not have previously attended the course. For participants from Afghanistan, Mali and Yemen, we are arranging for simultaneous interpretation. We are assuming that participants from Bangladesh and Pakistan will be proficient in English and will not require simultaneous interpretation. ¶5. The course will be held at the FDIC's training center at 3501 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia (Virginia Square Metro stop). The �A;FDIC facility is a state-of-the-art regulatory training facility with a hotel for students attached to the training complex. The FDIC will conduct the course with interventions from the FBI, Treasury, and other investigatory/regulatory agencies. The training program is five days (Monday-Friday),and a block of hotel rooms has been reserved for the approximately 25 participants but must be confirmed by February 20. INL and S/CT will provide funding to the FDIC for students' travel, lodging and per diem, as well as covering the training costs. ¶6. Action Request: Washington requests action posts to invite host governments to participate in this training opportunity, and to provide by COB February 19, names and identifying information (name, position, date of birth, passport number) of attendees Please also include the name, email address and phone number of the person at post who will be responsible for nominating the candidates and taking care of administrative matters in connection with this request. ¶7. The following information will allow all Embassies to debit the FDIC account via the IPAC process: FDIC ALC number: 51000001; Appropriation Symbol 51 X 4596 0000, Bureau Code 00. Description: March 23-27 Intnl AML/CFT Training. Contact Name: Mary Davis FDIC (703)562-6200. Embassies are authorized to charge against this fiscal data to purchase round-trip, coach airline tickets for approved participants. Embassies are further authorized to provide M&IE (meals and incidental expenses) for each participant based on actual travel dates and $150 to each participant for taxis. M&IE rates for the Washington are $64 for full day and $48 for travel days. FDIC will debit the account for lodging at the FDIC on-site hotel at the daily rate of $148.84. Arrival in Washington should be no later than March 22,2009 and we encourage posts to arrange departure on March 28, not on March 27, the last day of the training course. ¶8. The following information must be provided for each expense submitted to the FDIC: name of the post, name of person for whom charges are being submitted and the purpose of the charge. Embassies are further requested to send confirmed flight information and actual costs, as well as confirmed MI&E and taxi disbursements, to the points of contact for this training course: B.C. Hamilton at the FDIC, 202 898-3681, bchamilton@fdic.gov; and Bob Blohm at State S/CT, 202 647-3773, blohmrj@state.gov. ¶9. Washington appreciates posts' support of the Counterterrorism Finance Training and Assistance Program and looks forward to the active involvement of host country candidates in the course. CLINTON