Homeland Security

DATE=6/2/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=SAUDI / TERRORISM / CHARITY (L-O)

NUMBER=2-316400

BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Saudi Arabia has announced it is folding all of its private charities that send money overseas into a single commission in an effort to crack down on funding for terrorists. Correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Washington.

TEXT: Saudi officials told reporters at their embassy in Washington the government is setting up a new Saudi National Commission for Relief and Charity Work Abroad to better control the flow of money overseas.

Adel al-Jubeir, the foreign affairs adviser to the Saudi royal family, says all charities that sent money overseas in the past will, along with their assets, be folded into the new entity in an effort to stop any flow of funds to terrorist organizations.

/// AL-JUBEIR ACT ///

Our work is not done. It is ongoing. We are determined to crush this evil. We are determined to go after those who finance it or those who condone it or justify it in any way, shape or form.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Al-Jubeir says private charitable donations from Saudi Arabia total about 100-million dollars per year.

He says only a small fraction of that money has been used by or diverted to illegal groups.

Mr. al-Jubeir says the new commission will be subject to strict financial and legal oversight to help guarantee charitable funds intended to help the needy are not misused.

At the same news conference U-S officials announced they are designating five branches of the Saudi-based charity Al-Haramain as having been involved in funding terrorism.

Those branches are located in Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Netherlands.

Juan Zarate, a deputy assistant secretary at the U-S Treasury Department, says the Bush administration is asking the United Nations to designate these groups and the charity's former leader as supporters of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations.

/// ZARATE ACT ///

The United States is also announcing today the designation of Al Haramain's former leader, Aqeel Abdulaziz Al-Aqil, and will be submitting his name to the United Nations for designation as well. These entities and this individual have provided financial, material and logistical support to the al-Qaida network, Osama Bin Laden or the Taleban, fueling and facilitating their efforts to carry out vile attacks against innocent individuals and the civilized world.

/// END ACT ///

U-S officials say with the latest action 374 individuals and organizations have been designated under an order designed to freeze the assets of terrorists and their supporters.

Nearly 140-million dollars in terrorist-related assets have been frozen as the result of efforts by the United States and its allies. (Signed)

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