US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT5082

UNCLAS KUWAIT 005082 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS JCLARK, S/CT TKUSHNER, NEA/ARPI 
SWALKER, NEA/RA LLEE, IO/PSC BFITZGERALD, TREASURY FOR TFFC 
DGLASER AND OFAC FOR RWERNER, NSC FOR JZARATE, LONDON FOR 
LTSOU, MANAMA OR JBEAL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN, ETTC, KTFN, PTER, CVIS, KVPR, KU 
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: AMBASSADOR OPENS ANTI-MONEY 
LAUNDERING AND TERROR FINANCE CONFERENCE 
 
REF: KUWAIT 4741 
 
1.  (U) On December 11, Ambassador delivered remarks at the 
opening of an anti-money laundering and terror finance 
conference hosted by Kuwait General Administration of Customs 
(KGAC) and DHS's U.S. Custom's Advisory Team. The 
Ambassador's remarks praised ongoing cooperation between the 
GOK and the U.S. and urged increased GOK diligence on 
implementing legal reforms to strengthen the country's 
CTF/AML regime.  The Ambassador made several specific 
suggestions, including putting more focus on cash couriers. 
(Note: Ambassador's remarks are available on-line at 
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/.) 
 
2.  (U)  In his opening remarks, Kuwait Customs Director 
General Ibraheem Al-Ghanim thanked the U.S. for its continued 
assistance, pointing to close cooperation between KGAC 
officers and the resident U.S. Customs Advisory Team.  He 
reaffirmed KGAC's commitment to CTF/AML and stressed the 
importance of enhancing coordination among GOK agencies. 
Both the Ambassador and Al-Ghanim underscored the importance 
of coordinated CTF/AML efforts in remarks to the press 
following the opening session. 
 
3.  (SBU) In a separate side meeting, the Ambassador thanked 
Al-Ghanim for his efforts, urging increased support to 
complete the revision of the country's outdated 2002 
anti-money laundering law.  Al-Ghanim concurred with the 
Ambassador on the urgency of legal reform, including the 
enactment of a cash exit declaration policy to counter the 
threat posed by cash couriers.  Al-Ghanim predicted that the 
enactment of a cash exit declaration policy was a gradual 
process, likely to happen over the next two years in 
conjunction with increased public awareness and confidence in 
the proposed changes.  Al-Ghanim noted that the demise of the 
Iraqi regime had enhanced Kuwaitis' confidence in their 
personal financial security, encouraging many to forego 
traditional dependence on cash-based transactions when 
traveling abroad. 
 
4.  (U) The conference, administered by six DHS/ICE 
officials, will last until December 14 and will focus on a 
broad range of CTF/AML measures including the U.S. CTF/AML 
legal system, source development and investigation, asset 
identification and forfeiture, currency smuggling, 
intelligence analysis and covert operations. 
 
5.  (U) Participants include GOK officials from relevant 
ministries including the MFA, Finance, Justice, Central Bank, 
Social Affairs and Labor, among others.  In addition to local 
Kuwaiti banks, BNP Paribas and HSBC also attended as well as 
observers from the French, Japanese and South Korean 
embassies. 
 
6.  (U) The Central Bank of Kuwait will convene a MENA/FATF 
training seminar on terror finance and money laundering 
starting December 17-21, in cooperation with the World Bank 
and IMF (reported in reftel). 
 
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Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
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LEBARON