Cyprus has continued to make progress in strengthening banking efforts to combat terrorist financing, according to the State Department's report on terrorism for 2020. The report notes that the Green Line provides a major gateway for human and drug trafficking.
The end of the Cypriot investment program will help prevent the EU passport market from terrorists, as well as their sponsors and financiers, the State Department added.
The report covers the Republic of Cyprus without reference to the occupied territories. According to her, the Republic of Cyprus cooperated closely with the United States, the EU and other countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, in the framework of international efforts to combat terrorism in 2020.
"Cyprus has continued to make progress in strengthening its banking sector's efforts to combat terrorist financing," the report added, noting that Cyprus is a member of the Global Coalition Against Islamic State.
The State Department also referred to the Green Line, noting that "it is largely open to civilian crossings and remains an important gateway for human trafficking, drugs and other smuggling."
He also says that the division of the island hinders the cooperation between the two communities and between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey - which, as he notes, do not maintain diplomatic relations - in matters of fighting terrorism.
In 2020 there are no reports of terrorist incidents in Cyprus, he added. Regarding developments in legislation, law enforcement and border security, the report refers to the second anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent on Security Cooperation between the US and the Republic of Cyprus, noting that progress is being made on all fronts.
Reference is also made to the exchange of fingerprints in the framework of the US-Cyprus agreement for the Prevention and Fight against Serious Crime, as well as to the Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2020 by Foreign Ministers Mike Pompeo and Nikos Christodoulidis for the construction of the Maritime Borders, Offshore and Port Security (CYCLOPS).
Among other things, the report refers to the US donation of an underwater camera system to the Port and Maritime Police, mainly for use in the port of Limassol.
"The Republic of Cyprus scrapped the controversial plan to grant citizenship to investors in October, following Al Jazeera revelations that showed widespread corruption in the application process. "The termination of the program will help prevent terrorists and their sponsors and financiers from buying an EU passport and having enhanced access to the EU financial systems that this entails."
Other developments include the donation of equipment for a mobile laboratory to the Digital Security Authority, for forensic analysis and cyber investigations. The report also mentions talks on a bilateral pilot program to improve the Republic of Cyprus's controls on travelers and to identify criminals and terrorists, as well as training opportunities.
The preamble to the report, which covers efforts to combat terrorism internationally, states that in 2020 the United States and its partners took important steps in the fight against terrorist organizations, but "the threat of terrorism has spread geographically to areas around the world. ».
The Coalition Against Islamic State has worked to consolidate the gains in Iraq and Syria, while expanding efforts to counter the growing ISIS threat in West Africa and the Sahel, it added.
The State Department notes that despite significant successes against terrorism, terrorist groups continue to pose a threat internationally.
The pandemic COVID-19 complicate the terrorist landscape, creating challenges and opportunities for terrorist groups, the report notes, among other things.
Source: KYPE