VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0760/01 0121132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX0086BB TOQ5717 532A)
R 221536Z DEC 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0110
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000760 
 
C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y - REVISED TEXT 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE 
DEPT FOR NCTC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM KPAO KHLS EFIN UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 109980 
 
¶1. (U) This is a CORRECTED COPY of 09 Montevideo 760. Embassy point 
of contact for this report is Pol/Econ officer Eric Theus. 
 
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GENERAL ASSESSMENT 
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¶2. (SBU) Uruguay is a willing partner of the U.S. in 
counterterrorism efforts. It supports the fight against 
international terrorism and is improving its ability to fight 
international crime through legislation, better protection of its 
borders and through military training. The government of Uruguay 
focuses its participation on efforts to promote global security 
through collective action within multinational organizations such 
as the U.N. and OAS.  Through a variety of peacekeeping missions 
throughout the world, including in Haiti and the Congo, it seeks to 
work collaboratively to assist countries suffering from political 
and social instability. The Frente Amplio (FA) administration of 
President Tabare Vazquez reasons that this is Uruguay's 
contribution to the international fight against terrorism. Uruguay 
participates in joint military training outside of its borders, but 
is hesitant to permit joint military training on its soil because 
of residual mistrust of the military after a thirteen-year period 
of military dictatorship (1972- 1985) that saw significant human 
rights abuses. Still, Uruguay is becoming more aware of the ways 
that it is affected by international crime, causing Uruguayan 
officials to increase efforts to fight all international crime. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Frente Amplio's presidential nominee, Jose Mujica, 
won the late November 2009 election and will take office in March 
¶2010. During the lengthy presidential campaign in 2009, Mujica 
consistently indicated that his administration would follow the 
model of Vazquez's term in office, which exhibited a strong level 
of bilateral cooperation on many issues, including law enforcement. 
 
 
¶4. (U) Uruguay's most notable contribution to counterterrorism, if 
only indirectly, is its substantial commitment to UN peacekeeping 
missions in Haiti, Africa and other regions, including a contingent 
to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. Uruguay 
provides the greatest number of UN peacekeepers, in per capita 
terms, of any UN member state. Although these efforts are not 
specifically focused on counterterrorism, Uruguay's use of its 
diplomatic and military resources to fight global instability 
serves to address root causes of terrorism such as political, 
economic and social instability. 
 
¶5. (U) Uruguay is a member of the MERCOSUR Permanent Working Group 
on terrorism, together with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and 
Bolivia. The group facilitates cooperation and information sharing 
among countries combating terrorism. Uruguay has also been active 
in a range of international counterterrorism efforts, particularly 
in the Rio Group and the Organization of American States (OAS). 
 
¶6. (U) Uruguay has signed and ratified twelve of the thirteen major 
United Nations conventions on terrorism. In 2003, Uruguay ratified 
the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing 
of Terrorism and the Convention on the Physical Protection of 
Nuclear Material. In 2004, the Uruguayan Congress approved Law 
17,835, which significantly strengthened Uruguay's money laundering 
regime. The law included specific provisions related to the 
financing of terrorism and to the freezing of assets linked to 
terrorist organizations. A new money laundering law passed this 
year further defines money laundering, including as it relates to 
terrorist financing. 
 
¶7. (U) Law 17.835 from 2004 and Law 18.494 from 2009 significantly 
strengthened the GOU's anti-money laundering regime by including 
specific provisions related to the financing of terrorism and to 
the freezing of assets linked to terrorist organizations. Under Law 
17.835, terrorist financing was a separate, autonomous offense that 
can be prosecuted from other terrorism-related crimes. 
 
¶8. (U) The level of cooperation and intelligence sharing on 
counterterrorism related issues improved in 2009. The political 
leadership in the Ministries of Defense and Interior increasingly 
see terrorism as a significant issue for Uruguay, and working level 
officers in law enforcement and security services recognize the 
importance of conducting proactive investigations and intelligence 
sharing with the USG and any other appropriate services from other 
Latin American countries. 
 
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SANCTUARY (SAFE HAVENS) ASSESSMENT 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) There are no known terrorism sanctuaries in Uruguay, 
although Uruguay's northern border with Brazil is characterized by 
limited border control at any of the land crossings and heavy 
traffic. Uruguayan law enforcement control over its porous borders 
will be bolstered by the use of a radar system purchased in 2009 
that will be implemented in northern Uruguay with the support of 
the U.S. military State Partners program. 
 
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TERRORIST GROUPS 
---------------- 
 
¶10. (U) There are no known representatives of al-Qa'ida or other 
international terrorist groups in Uruguay, and Uruguayan 
authorities have not discovered terrorist assets in Uruguayan 
financial institutions. 
 
¶11. (U) There have not been any incidents of thwarted terrorist 
activity or the destruction of terrorist cells in Uruguay in 2009, 
nor has Uruguay requested the extradition of any suspected 
terrorist in 2009. 
 
------------------------------ 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT COOPERATION 
------------------------------ 
 
¶12. (SBU) Although the USG has not explicitly requested Uruguayan 
government assistance or cooperation in the investigation of an act 
of international terrorism in 2009, government of Uruguay officials 
have routinely condemned terrorism and have issued statements 
against terrorist acts after they have occurred. Uruguay was not 
directly involved in any international investigations related to 
terrorist acts and did not undertake any major counterterrorism 
efforts in 2009. 
 
¶13. (SBU) There have been no host government efforts in 2009 to 
create organizations or processes to fight terrorism and there were 
no extremist or violence-supporting groups active in Uruguay in 
2009 that would require government intervention. 
 
¶14. (U) Uruguay does not have any significant impediments to the 
prosecution or extradition of suspected terrorists. The Uruguayan 
judicial system is independent from external influences. Uruguay is 
a cooperative partner in extraditions, but extradites criminals to 
countries that impose the death penalty only with a guarantee that 
the person will not be subject to it. The government of Uruguay has 
improving, but still limited surveillance and communication 
intercept capabilities and can only employ these resources with a 
court order. There is no special examining magistrate for terrorism 
cases. Suspected terrorists, like any suspected criminal, will be 
held for 24 hours unless evidence is presented in court. 
 
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PROPOSED TEXT FOR 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶15. (U) Following is Post's proposed text for the 2009 Country 
Reports on Terrorism: 
 
"The government of Uruguay generally cooperates with the United 
States and international institutions in the war on terrorism, but 
has not devoted great resources to the effort.  There were no 
significant incidents of international terrorism in Uruguay in 
¶2009.  Uruguayan banking and law enforcement agencies search for 
financial assets, individuals, and groups with links to terrorism, 
but have not discovered any terrorist assets in Uruguayan financial 
institutions, nor have they discovered any terrorist operatives in 
Uruguay." 
SCHANDLBAUER