VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0574/01 1941958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131958Z JUL 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2258

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000574 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IO/PSC, S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER XY KFTN KCRM
SUBJECT: WEST AFRICAN STATES ASK FOR HELP IN COMBATING 
TERRORISM 
 
¶1. (U)  SUMMARY: The UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive 
Directorate (CTED) held an informal meeting on July 11 to 
address the technical assistance needs of West African states 
in fulfilling their counter-terrorism obligations under 
Security Council resolution 1373.  Present at the meeting 
were members of the CTED staff, West African member states, 
potential and current technical assistance providers, and a 
number of non-governmental and inter-governmental 
organizations.  The West African recipient states mentioned 
many common areas in which they require technical assistance 
during the meeting.  In response, donor states and 
organizations expressed a willingness to offer aid to the 
West African states in a variety of ways.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U)  Chairman of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) 
Ambassador Ricardo Alberto Arias noted that technical 
assistance is most effective on a regional and sub-regional 
basis because neighboring states face similar challenges.  He 
characterized this meeting as an opportunity for providers of 
technical assistance and West African recipient states to 
engage in dialogue on effective terrorism prevention.  Arias 
also stressed the need for a coherent global approach to 
counter-terrorism. 
 
¶3. (U)  Sergey Karev, Officer-in-Charge of CTED, remarked 
that West African states lack key technology and sufficient 
funds to implement counter-terrorism conventions and 
resolutions.  He outlined CTED,s three major goals in 
facilitating technical assistance.  One goal is to collect 
and analyze information about West African shortfalls in 
implementation.  Another goal is to organize consultation on 
these shortfalls.  The last goal is to find and match donor 
states to provide technical assistance to the West African 
states.  Karev described the CTED matrix, which organizes 
technical assistance data, as a good tool to provide 
information on states, needs or resources as well as to 
avoid duplication of assistance efforts.  He stated that the 
goals of the meeting were to improve relationships between 
donors and recipients and to promulgate a regional approach 
to capacity building per UN Resolution 1373. 
 
¶4. (U)  CTED Section Chief Ahmed Seif El-Dawla argued that 
sub-regional cooperation is imperative: if one state has 
effective counter-terrorism measures and its neighbors do 
not, terrorism will not be prevented but rather migrate to 
neighboring countries, rendering the overall result of the 
state,s counter-terrorism measures ineffectual.  He also 
noted that donor states are more encouraged to contribute 
technical assistance when regions and sub-regions are stable, 
and that stability helps counter-terrorism programs succeed. 
Seif El-Dawla also stressed the importance of preventing 
terrorist exploitation of domestic weaknesses.  To that end, 
he noted that while 1373 is beneficial, West African states 
in particular still need help in order to effectively 
implement compliance measures.  He added that this need for 
help is especially critical in light of other West African 
concerns such as debt repayment and development. 
 
¶5. (U)  Seif El-Dawla described CTED,s two-prong approach to 
fighting terrorism.  The first prong involves facilitating 
the exchange of information between donor and recipient 
states within the framework of the 14 established categories 
of technical assistance.  The second prong involves promoting 
the importance of the UN counter-terrorism strategy adopted 
in September 2006 though capacity building and coordination 
with 1373 efforts.  He also outlined the most important areas 
where donor states can provide technical assistance: drafting 
and adopting legislation to implement international 
conventions and protocols, strengthening financial laws and 
practices like the ability to freeze terrorist funds, 
funneling resources to law enforcement institutions, 
improving border control lapses (especially where such lapses 
amplify weapons smuggling and terrorist recruitment and 
training), and encouraging submission of data so that donor 
states can better target their resources. 
 
¶6. (U)  Representatives from Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, 
Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, 
Senegal, Cape Verde, and Togo made statements summarizing 
their current counter-terrorism efforts and their outstanding 
technical assistance needs.  Most states expressed a 
commitment to international cooperation, a willingness to 
combat terrorism within their borders, and a desire to comply 
with 1373 and other international counter-terrorism 
conventions.  However, states also noted a number of areas in 
which they have had extreme difficulties that hinder their 
efforts at compliance.  Many common themes and problems 
emerged. 
 
 
 
 
LACK OF RESOURCES 
 
¶7.  (U)  Almost every West African state reported an 
inability to implement counter-terrorism conventions and 
protocols because of a lack of all types of resources.  Many 
states noted the scarcity of financial resources.  Many 
states also mentioned their need for technical resources like 
computers, detection equipment, and monitoring equipment. 
Most states also complained of a lack of human resources on 
many levels: they quantitatively lack personnel, and the 
personnel they do have are also in acute need of training. 
Areas in which training is most critically needed include 
technology and computers, financial intelligence, and customs 
and border control. 
 
 
 
BORDER CONTROL 
 
¶8.  (U)  Similarly, almost every state complained about a 
number of border control problems.  States reported these 
types of problems at land borders as well as at ports. 
States attributed a variety of problems to porous, 
poorly-guarded borders: smuggling of small arms and light 
weapons, and trafficking of drugs and humans.  These states 
requested many types of technical assistance to combat these 
problems: more customs and border officials staff, enhanced 
training for these types of staff members, financial aid, and 
technical resources such as computers, airport x-ray 
machines, and surveillance mechanisms. 
 
 
 
 
 
SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS 
 
¶9.  (U)  Some states also complained about the threat posed 
by small arms and light weapons, and asked for help in 
combating this problem.  Mali noted problems in marking and 
tracking these weapons, in large part because of its porous 
borders.  Sierra Leone similarly noted the ease with which 
such weapons can be trafficked.  Benin noted the adverse 
effect of international organized crime on the presence of 
small arms and light weapons within its borders. 
 
 
 
OTHER ISSUES 
 
¶10.  (U)  There were a number of other areas where states 
requested help.  Mali, Sierra Leone, and Cape Verde asked for 
assistance in drafting and passing national legislation that 
would strengthen domestic counter-terrorism measures and aid 
compliance with international conventions.  Benin, Guinea, 
and Liberia noted the destabilizing effects of regional 
fighting on their counter-terrorism efforts.  Liberia also 
expressed fears that former fighters may be recruited and 
utilized by terrorist organizations because of their battle 
experience and failure to be reintegrated into civil society. 
 Some states complained about weak domestic financial 
institutions and the prevalence of money laundering within 
their borders, and requested help in strengthening those 
institutions to counteract these problems.  Gambia asked for 
aid in capacity building, and complained that previous 
requests for help have gone unanswered.  Benin noted its 
difficulty in complying with UN resolution 1540 and asked for 
help in the following areas: defining standards for compiling 
passenger information and warnings, establishing minimum 
standards for travel documents and biometric techniques, 
defining minimum standards to verify the authenticity of 
identification at borders, drafting legal instruments for 
nuclear terrorism, and monitoring dual use instruments. 
Nigeria expressed displeasure at defining technical 
assistance in terms of &recipient8 and &donor8 states, 
noting that there were areas in which countries that are 
underdeveloped can nevertheless share their innovations with 
other countries.  Guinea noted the importance of addressing 
the root causes of terrorism in the region such as poverty 
and instability, and many West African states, recipient 
states, and organizations echoed this sentiment. 
 
¶11.  (U)  A number of donor states outlined the technical 
assistance they have provided so far, and noted the areas in 
which they can provide further help.  The states that spoke 
were Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the United States, 
Denmark, Egypt, Portugal, and Russia.  The U.S. described its 
assistance to the Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership 
(see para 17).  Most states praised the regional and 
sub-regional approach to technical assistance, and expressed 
 
 
varying levels of ability to financially aid West African 
states in combating terrorism.  Germany, Italy, Japan, and 
Egypt noted concerns about the effect of money laundering and 
weak financial institutions within West Africa.  Germany, 
Spain, Japan, Denmark, and Egypt also expressed willingness 
to help West African countries with capacity building, and 
with drafting and implementing domestic legislation. 
 
¶12.  (U)  Various international organizations explained the 
ways in which they could aid West African states in their 
counter-terrorism efforts.  The organizations that presented 
were the African Union, the European Commission, 
Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering and 
Terrorism Financing in West Africa (GIABA), the International 
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International 
Monetary Fund (IMF), Interpol, the United Nations Office on 
Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), the UN Interregional Crime and 
Justice Research Center (UNICRI), the Office of the UN High 
Commissioner for Human Rights, and the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM).   The organizations 
obviously vary in their areas of expertise and their 
abilities to help West African states.  However, most 
organizations expressed willingness to use their capabilities 
to work within the existing frameworks of the states and to 
aid the states, efforts in implementing their policies. 
 
¶13.  (U)  GIABA,s legal expert, Juliet Ume-Ezeoke Ibekaku, 
gave a comprehensive presentation about GIABA,s efforts to 
combat money laundering and terrorism financing.  She noted 
that while many West African states have instituted 
anti-money laundering legislation, the legislation does not 
incorporate the best and most efficient practices.  In order 
to improve the inadequate financial laws of these states and 
to increase enforcement of these policies, GIABA provides 
varying types of aid, from help with legislative drafting and 
implementation to providing office and technical equipment to 
the states to aiding states in conducting self-assessments. 
However, Ibekaku noted that GIABA faces severe budgetary and 
resource constraints.  Its budget is $149,000, and it has 
only 7 staff members.  She concluded that these shortages 
hinder GIABA,s effectiveness in helping West African states 
counter money laundering and terrorist financing, especially 
in light of the fact that many of the states often lack the 
political will to pass or implement policies on their own. 
 
¶14. (U)  Seif Al-Dawla  described CTED,s two tools of 
technical assistance.  The first tool is the matrix, which 
gives snapshot information on recipient states, technical 
assistance needs and dates when donor states offered help so 
that potential providers can avoid duplicating aid efforts. 
The second tool is the directory of assistance, which is an 
up-to-date index of the ways in which donor states, the UN, 
and international organizations can help states in need of 
assistance.  Robert Meyer, the Associate Information 
Management Officer for CTED, gave a brief demonstration how 
to use the directory.  The representative from Senegal 
inquired whether the directory would be in languages other 
than English and noted potential problems in translating the 
site from English.  CTED responded that the first priority is 
to complete the directory, and that once that is accomplished 
they will ask that part of the budget be allocated to 
updating the site in French.  CTED also noted that member 
states can contact CTED directly for clarification or help. 
The representative from Sierra Leone asked whether the matrix 
could be used in order to request assistance or whether it 
was merely intended as a repository for information.  CTED 
responded that it can be used for both purposes, and that 
CTED,s goal involves both consultation on and prioritization 
of requests for help.  Egypt,s representative asked whether 
the matrix indicated what kinds of assistance have been 
offered; in response, CTED only noted that the matrix 
indicates the contact information of states.  The IMF 
representative wanted to know how CTED plans to manage the 
matrix.  CTED answered that states do not have to go through 
CTED in order to request or receive assistance; they 
encourage states to use CTED and at the very least to report 
assistance efforts regardless of their source, but state are 
not precluded from requesting help through the IMF. 
 
¶15.  (U)  A number of states had comments and questions for 
CTED.  Burkina Faso expressed gratitude that the donor states 
had listened and responded to the difficulties faced by West 
African states, but criticized GIABA,s characterization of 
West African political will and noted that GIABA itself was a 
creation of West African states.  Egypt asked for 
clarification of CTED,s role in helping states prepare 
reports for the matrix and wanted to know how CTED intends to 
avoid duplication of aid efforts.  Nigeria also inquired 
about CTED,s efforts to avoid duplication in light of the 
fact that there are a number of agencies and sub-regional 
organizations that focus on counter-terrorism.  Karev 
 
 
responded that CTED avoids duplication by working in concert 
with other UN agencies, and that given the varied functions 
of the different agencies, duplication of efforts is largely 
avoided.  Lastly, Nigeria applauded Japan,s focus on root 
causes of terrorism like poverty, and urged other states to 
adopt a similar focus.  Karev noted that while efforts to 
combat root causes of terrorism are necessary, such activity 
falls outside the scope of CTED,s mandate. 
 
¶16. (U)  Karev concluded the conference by highlighting 
common themes and next steps.  He characterized the meeting 
as a success in publicizing the technical assistance needs of 
West African states, something helpful for recipient states, 
donor states, and organizations.  He commented that since 
most West African states have similar problems, multilateral 
cooperation between both donors and recipients should be 
considered a useful supplement to bilateral consultation and 
aid.  Karev ended the meeting by explaining CTED,s upcoming 
plans to aid West African states, which involves drafting 
work action plans that develop programs of common interest 
for West African states and taking these plans to donors to 
spur bilateral and multilateral cooperation. 
 
¶17.  (U)  Drawing on material provided by the Department, 
USUN made the following statement: 
      Begin text.  I would like to thank CTED for convening 
this very important meeting.  A theme which pervades the 
discussion of countering terrorism in the Security Council 
and General Assembly is the need for international 
cooperation.  Unfortunately, we are all faced with the threat 
of terrorism.  We are in this together, and communication and 
cooperation are absolutely essential.  Against this backdrop, 
the United States is encouraged by the response and quality 
of participation today.  In particular, we have noted the 
preparation and participation of African states whose 
representatives have seriously and with specificity outlined 
their needs.  We have listened and will endeavor to respond. 
 
Let me mention what we are doing at present in this regard. 
The United States and nine African countries created the 
Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership in 2005.  The nine 
African countries are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, 
Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria.  The U.S. supports 
the partnership with resources and expertise from multiple 
agencies in the U.S. federal government including the State 
department, USAID, and the Department of Defense. 
 
The partnership is a multi-faceted multi-year commitment 
focused on improving individual country and regional 
capabilities to defeat terrorist organizations, disrupt 
efforts to recruit and train new terrorist fighters, 
particularly from the young and rural poor, and counter 
efforts to establish safe havens for domestic and outside 
extremist groups. 
 
Fiscal Year 2007 funding for this partnership is 
approximately $143 million, and of this $143 million, $7.2 
million was spent on specialized counter-terrorism assistance 
training, including work with non-military units tasked with 
prevention, response, and investigation of terrorist 
activities (examples of this are border police, crime 
investigators, and efforts in Ministries of the Interior). 
This funding came from the State Department under the 
Nonproliferation Anti-terrorism De-mining Reconstruction 
account, and can be used to support programming for 
non-military individuals and units engaged in specialized 
counter-terrorism activities. 
 
The United States wants you as our partners in combating 
terrorism and will continue to work with you to this end. 
Thank you.  End text. 
 
KHALILZAD