As prepared for delivery...

Remarks by Ambassador Klosson at the
Law Enforcement Cooperation Reception

The Residence

February 21, 2003

Minister Shambos, Acting Attorney General Clerides, Chief Panayiotou, ladies and gentlemen:

I am very pleased to welcome to the residence tonight such an accomplished group of officials involved in law enforcement. 

I wanted to salute you and express my personal appreciation for the excellent support and collaboration the United States enjoys.  In particular, I wanted to thank not only the leaders, but also all the many men and women who get the job done day in and day out. 

On our side, I hope you have a chance to get to know better those in the Embassy involved directly in security and law enforcement – in particular, our Regional Security Officer, Chris Schurman; Bob Clifford, our Legal Attaché, and Steve Gross, our Assistant Legal Attaché, both based in Athens; BJ Lawrence, head of our DEA office;  Mark Leoni, our Consular Section chief;  Charles Fortenberry, an advisor from U.S. Customs; and others in our political and economic sections who work on policy-related matters.

I cannot think of any area where our bilateral cooperation is more important than security and law enforcement.  First, Cypriot officers help ensure the safety of the 3200 American citizens who reside here and those of us who work at the U.S. Embassy.  That is of paramount importance to us. Second, Cypriot officials also advance cooperation against terrorism and international crime. 

We have an exemplary relationship with the Republic of Cyprus at all levels, from the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the office of the Attorney General and the Chief of Police all the way to the street level where so much important work gets done.  To each of you -- thank you all for the tremendous job you are doing.

The United States and Cyprus took a major step forward together last September when we brought into force the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).   This gives us new tools to combat crime. 

Since September 11, our top priority has been the war on terrorism.  We work closely with all law enforcement agencies here to share information and devise strategies to deter and arrest terrorists and to seize their assets.  Together we must leave no stone unturned.  Cyprus is one of 165 jurisdictions that adopted blocking orders against

designated terrorist entities.  As we are doing in other capitals, the embassy will also shortly launch on the island a “Rewards for Justice” program, which will offer incentives to anyone who may have information about terrorist financing or direct terrorist activities.

Cyprus has been an active participant in the State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) training program since the mid-1980s.  Over 600 Cypriot Police have taken ATA courses.  Most recent programs included an explosive detector dog course and an Airport Security Training Needs Assessment visit.   Cyprus's explosive sniffing dogs were acquired through the ATA program, which has trained 13 police officers and provided 15 new dogs.  Overall, Cyprus, I’m very pleased to report, is held up by ATA program managers as a model for other countries seeking this training.

We also work closely with Cypriot Customs authorities. Both the United States and Cyprus have increased their vigilance to prevent the movement of articles related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  It is in the interest of both countries to guard against their ports being abused as transshipment or destination points for WMD or terrorists.  Customs is also a key partner in the fight against drug trafficking.  With training and equipment supplied in part by the U.S., Cyprus is making major strides in these areas.

Border control and airport security – what we call homeland security in the U.S. -- is another mutual concern.  We salute our colleagues in the immigration police, who have detained a number of foreigners traveling on phony U.S. visas.  Their cooperation with the Embassy’s Consular Section has been first-rate. 

The Government of Cyprus has also undertaken steps in recent years to raise its guard against financial crimes, especially international money laundering.  Our Financial Crimes Enforcement Network cooperates closely with MOKAS, Cyprus’s financial intelligence unit.

Protection of intellectual property rights is another priority worldwide.  We very much welcome the stepped-up enforcement actions the police have mounted in recent months.

So, let me conclude by saluting all those involved in our joint work to combat terrorism and crime.  We thank our Cypriot colleagues who have shouldered their responsibilities so well.

Please join me in a toast to you -- our Cypriot colleagues and friends -- and your tireless efforts to make this world a safer and better place.