Russia Takes Measures To Cut Off International Terrorism Funding

Russian Vice-Premier, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reported to the participants in the Washington meeting of G-8 finance ministers and chief bankers on Russia's measures to cut off international terrorism funding. He told journalists about this after the meeting. These measures include adopting decrees on freezing Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaida's assets if discovered, Kudrin said. According to him, Russia is examining 27 organizations and private persons listed by the U.S. administration and involved in funding international terrorist organizations but they have not been discovered in Russia yet. However, this list includes only a part of such organizations, we have information on some others and are also checking them, the vice-premier stressed. "There are cases and examples of the Russian authorities finding sources of terrorists' funding in the country," Kudrin noted. The Russian Parliament is considering the law on toughening penalty for participation in funding terrorism to 15 years of imprisonment, the vice-premier said. The draft law provides for measures on protection of witnesses helping to discover terrorism funding. Besides, in the near future the Russian President is to issue a decree on fulfilling the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 of September 28. In his address to G-8 financial leaders Alexei Kudrin proposed to ratify the international convention of December 9, 1999, on cutting off terrorism funding. "The problem needs specifying tools and mechanisms of fighting and coordinating efforts of different structures," the vice-premier stressed. He said, "Russia is ready to present the information available on the organizations believed to be linked with terrorists." Kudrin stressed Russia was ready to participate in countering terrorism menacing not only the USA but also other countries.