US embassy cable - 99STATE204472

UNCLAS STATE 204472 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER 
SUBJECT: ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
(THIS CABLE HAS BEEN CLEARED BY M/P (SEP).) 
 
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1. SUMMARY 
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THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE AN 
ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT TO CONGRESS. THIS LAW 
REQUIRES THE REPORT BE A FULL AND COMPLETE 
FACTUAL RECORD OF TERRORISM-RELATED ACTIVITY IN 
ALL COUNTRIES THAT EXPERIENCED TERRORISM AND NOT 
BE TEMPERED BY CONCERNS ABOUT HOST GOVERNMENT 
 
SENSITIVITIES TO THE FACTS PRESENTED. THE 
REPORT CALLED "PATTERNS OF GLOBAL TERRORISM: 
1999" IS DUE TO CONGRESS NEXT APRIL, BUT POSTS 
SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE BY NOVEMBER 30, 
1999. AS DESCRIBED IN GREATER DETAIL BELOW, 
POSTS SHOULD REPORT ON HOST GOVERNMENT 
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND ATTITUDES. RECENT 
LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES THAT THE DEPARTMENT 
REPORT INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTENT OF 
HOST GOVERNMENT COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED 
STATES ON TERRORISM CASES DURING THE PAST FIVE 
YEARS. SEE PARAGRAPH 3 (I,J,K). 
 
S/CT WILL COMPILE THE TERRORISM REPORT. BECAUSE 
THE DEPARTMENT ALREADY HAS INFORMATION ON 
TERRORIST ATTACKS, POSTS NEED NOT PROVIDE 
INFORMATION ON SUCH ATTACKS THEMSELVES, UNLESS 
MORE BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS ARE NEEDED. 
PARAGRAPH 4 BELOW PROVIDES SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 
FOR USUN. THE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATES EXCELLENT 
REPORTING POSTS HAVE PROVIDED ON THIS HIGH 
PRIORITY ISSUE IN THE PAST AND LOOKS FORWARD TO 
REVIEWING SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS REPORT. (END 
SUMMARY.) 
 
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2. DEFINITIONS 
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THE LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE ANNUAL REPORT 
PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS: 
 
-   A) "INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM" IS TERRORISM 
INVOLVING CITIZENS OR THE TERRITORY OF MORE THAN 
ONE COUNTRY. 
 
-   B) "TERRORISM" IS PREMEDITATED, POLITICALLY 
MOTIVATED VIOLENCE PERPETRATED AGAINST 
NONCOMBATANT TARGETS BY SUBNATIONAL GROUPS OR 
CLANDESTINE STATE AGENTS. 
 
-   C) "TERRORIST GROUP" IS ANY GROUP 
PRACTICING, OR THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT SUBGROUPS 
WHICH PRACTICE, INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 
 
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REPORT, THE DEPARTMENT 
INTERPRETS TERM "NONCOMBATANT TARGET" TO 
ENCOMPASS MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO AT THE TIME OF 
THE INCIDENT ARE UNARMED AND/OR NOT ON DUTY, AND 
ATTACKS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OR ARMED 
 
MILITARY PERSONNAL WHEN A STATE OF MILITARY 
HOSTILITIES DOES NOT EXIST AT THE SITE. 
 
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3. POST RESPONSES 
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POSTS' REPORTS SHOULD ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING: 
 
A) DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM 
OF EACH COUNTRY TO ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC 
TERRORISM DURING 1999, INCLUDING ANY HOST 
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM. 
PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HOST 
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS REGARDING ACTS OF TERRORISM 
AGAINST OR AFFECTING U.S. CITIZENS OR 
FACILITIES. 
 
B) DID THE HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST 
THE EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR 
PROSECUTION DURING THE YEAR? PARTICULAR 
ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HOST GOVERNMENT 
RESPONSE TO U.S. REQUESTS FOR EXTRADITION OR 
ASSISTANCE IN TERRORIST CASES. 
 
C) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST 
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF 
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. 
 
D) DISCUSS HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN 
PROSECUTION. THESE WOULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT 
LIMITED TO, PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS OR OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCIES FOLLOWING A 
TERRORIST INCIDENT (IN OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY) 
AND EFFORTS BY HOST GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE 
TERRORIST INCIDENTS OR TO ASSIST WITH 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS. 
 
E) DESCRIBE MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS 
UNDERTAKEN IN 1999 BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT, 
INCLUDING STEPS TAKEN IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. 
 
F) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT 
SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS, 
OR TERRORIST GROUPS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED 
TO) POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF 
TERRORISTS OR THEIR ACTIVITIES; DIPLOMATIC 
SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION; MISUSE 
OF THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND OTHER DIPLOMATIC 
 
PRIVILEGES TO SUPPORT TERRORISM; PROVISION OF 
SANCTUARY AND/OR THE PRESENCE OF OFFICES OF 
TERRORIST GROUPS; PROVISION OF TRAINING OR 
TRAINING SITES; PROVISION OF WEAPONS; AND 
POSITIONS TAKEN ON TERRORISM ISSUES IN 
INTERNATIONAL FORA. 
 
G) HAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT MADE ANY PUBLIC 
STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING 
COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE? (THE SEVEN 
GOVERNMENTS DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY AS STATE 
SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ARE CUBA, IRAN, IRAQ, 
LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, SYRIA, AND SUDAN.) 
 
H) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1998, 
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S 
ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL OR 
DOMESTIC. WHAT IS REPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHANGE? 
 
I) DESCRIBE U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND 
INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING, 
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, REQUESTS TO THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT FOR SPECIFIC COOPERATION AND EFFORTS 
BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE HOST COUNTRY TO 
ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 
TERRORIST GROUPS DIRECTLY OR IN SUPPORT OF THEIR 
ACTIVITIES. DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF THE HOST 
COUNTRY'S COOPERATION WITH THOSE EFFORTS AND 
INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE 
HOST GOVERNMENT HAS SATISFIED THE SPECIFIC 
REQUESTS. 
 
J) IN ADDITION TO THIS GENERAL INFORMATION, IF 
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT 
COOPERATION FROM THE HOST GOVERNMENT DURING THE 
PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION OR 
PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS OR INTERESTS, 
PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON: 
 
   (I) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT 
COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT IN APPREHENDING, CONVICTING, 
AND PUNISHING THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACT; AND 
 
   (II) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT 
COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN PREVENTING 
FURTHER ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES 
CITIZENS IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORY. 
 
K) IF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT 
COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN 
THE PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS, 
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN 
PREVENTING ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED 
STATES CITIZENS IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S 
TERRITORY. 
 
(NOTE: THE DEPARTMENT MAY SUBMIT THE 
INFORMATION IN ITEMS J AND K TO CONGRESS IN A 
CLASSIFIED ANNEX IF THE SECRETARY DETERMINES 
THAT DOING SO WOULD MAKE THIRD COUNTRY 
COOPERATION MORE LIKELY. POSTS' ASSESSMENT OF 
THIS RISK IS WELCOME. LAST YEAR'S REPORT TO 
CONGRESS CONTAINED SUCH AN ANNEX.) 
POSTS THAT HAVE NO RELEVANT INFORMATION TO 
REPORT SHOULD SEND A BRIEF CABLE TO THIS EFFECT. 
 
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4. USUN REPORTING 
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USUN SHOULD REPORT THE POSITIONS (INCLUDING 
VOTING RECORDS) ON MATTERS RELATING TO TERRORISM 
TAKEN AT THE UN BY STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. 
(THE U.S. DESIGNATES CUBA, IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA, 
NORTH KOREA, SYRIA, AND SUDAN AS STATE 
SPONSORS.) USUN SHOULD ALSO REPORT OTHER 
STATES' PUBLIC POSITIONS ON TERRORISM ISSUES 
THAT CAN BE VIEWED AS SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM OR 
FOR ITS SPONSORS. PLEASE NOTE ANY SIGNIFICANT 
CHANGE IN POSITIONS OF STATE SPONSORS OF 
TERRORISM OR OTHERS. 
 
WE UNDERSTAND UNGA 1999 WILL RUN BEYOND THE 
NOVEMBER 30 DEADLINE, BUT WOULD APPRECIATE 
USUN'S REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE 
SESSION ENDS. 
 
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5. CLASSIFICATION 
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POSTS SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE 
UNCLASSIFIED REPORTS. ALTHOUGH THE DEPARTMENT 
IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE A SEPARATE CLASSIFIED 
SUPPLEMENT TO ITS REPORT TO CONGRESS, MOST PAST 
REPORTS HAVE BEEN UNCLASSIFIED IN THEIR 
ENTIRETY. IF POSTS FIND IT NECESSARY OR USEFUL 
TO PROVIDE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION OR COMMENTARY, 
SUCH MATERIAL SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED SEPARATELY BY 
PARAGRAPH. 
 
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6. WORK SCHEDULE: PLEASE PROVIDE RESPONSES BY 
NOVEMBER 30 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL 
REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM TO CONGRESS. 
ALL POSTS SHOULD HAVE COPIES OF THE PREVIOUS 
REPORTS. 
 
THE DEPARTMENT MUST TRANSMIT THE 1999 REPORT TO 
CONGRESS BY APRIL 30, 2000. 
 
MUCH OF THE REPORT -- ESPECIALLY THOSE SECTIONS 
ON REGIONAL AND WORLDWIDE TRENDS, AND 
DESCRIPTIONS OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS AND 
TERRORIST GROUPS -- IS PREPARED BY WASHINGTON 
ANALYSTS USING EXISTING DATA BASES. GIVEN THE 
SHORT LEAD TIME BETWEEN THE END OF THE CALENDAR 
YEAR, THE CLEARANCE PROCESS, AND THE APRIL 30 
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION TO THE CONGRESS, 
ANALYSTS WILL BE UNDER STRICT TIME CONSTRAINTS 
TO INCORPORATE THIS DATA AND POSTS' 
CONTRIBUTIONS INTO A PRODUCT THAT IS THE 
DEFINITIVE USG PUBLIC DOCUMENT ON INTERNATIONAL 
TERRORISM. WE ASK THEREFORE THAT POSTS RESPOND 
TO THIS MESSAGE BY NOVEMBER 30, 1999, SENDING 
SUPPLEMENTARY UPDATES, IF NECESSARY, THEREAFTER. 
 
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7. TAGS AND SLUGS 
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SLUGGED: S/CT FOR REAP 
 
TAGS: PTER 
 
SUBJECT LINE: (COUNTRY): 1999 ANNUAL TERRORISM 
REPORT 
 
8. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
 
ALBRIGHT