US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3774

S E C R E T KUWAIT 003774 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS IKRUM, S/CT TKUSHNER, NEA/ARPI 
AMISENHEIMER, NEA/ARPI RSMYTH, NEA/ELA SSONTY, NEA/IPA 
GLOGERFO, EUR/PGI LREASOR, IO/PSC BFITZGERALD 
NSC FOR JZARATE 
TREASURY FOR DGLASER, OFAC DIRECTOR RWERNER 
JUSTICE FOR JSILVERWOOD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2015 
TAGS: EFIN, ETTC, KTFN, PTER, CVIS, KVPR, KU 
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: POST COMMENTS ON PCC-APPROVED 
GULF TERRORIST FINANCE STRATEGY 
 
REF: KUWAIT 2927 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard Lebaron: Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (S)  Post has reviewed the PCC-adopted version of the Gulf 
Terrorist Finance Strategy paper. While Post concurs with the 
strategy's overall objectives, the paper paints an incomplete 
and bleak picture of the ground realities in Kuwait (see 
reftel). 
 
2.  (S) It is important to point out that: 
 
--The GOK remains a strong player in establishing the 
MENA/FATF. 
 
--Kuwaiti commercial banks have in place excellent controls 
with strong Central Bank supervision. 
 
--The GOK continues to cooperate on customs enforcement with 
US experts to target money laundering and cash controls. 
 
--There are GOK systems at work to monitor charities, 
resulting in the closure of unauthorized charity kiosks. 
 
--There is an effort underway to significantly strengthen the 
current AML law to criminalize terrorist finance; permit 
financial institutions to refer suspicious activity reports 
directly to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); allow the 
FIU to share intelligence directly with other FIUs; and more 
precisely define money laundering. 
 
--Moreover, the USG has offered and the GOK has accepted USG 
training (DOJ/OPDAT) to strengthen their policies and 
institutions. 
 
3.  (S) While more remains to be done in Kuwait, these and 
other important accomplishments cannot be disregarded as we 
move forward on the implementation of the strategy. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
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LEBARON