U.S. Pledges an Additional $2.25 Million for OAS Counterterrorism Efforts

The United States pledged an additional $2.25 million to strengthen and expand counterterrorism coordination in the western hemisphere, officials announced today at a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS), bringing the total U.S. contribution to over $7 million since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The announcement was made today in Bogotá, Colombia, by Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism and head of the U.S. delegation to the OAS Sixth Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), a 3-day conference hosted this year in Colombia. The U.S. delegation also included Ambassador John F. Maisto, Permanent Representative to the OAS.

The U.S. pledge represents approximately 80% of total hemispheric investments in CICTE, and is the largest contribution by the U.S. to the OAS body to date.

"CICTE is the only permanent regional multilateral forum focused exclusively on counterterrorism, and is an outstanding example of a region pulling together to protect itself, building bonds of understanding and trust, and ensuring the pursuit of democracy and economic freedoms, all of which are shared values among OAS member states," said Ambassador Crumpton. "The United States values relevant multilateralism and is firmly committed to CICTE’s long term success, working with fellow democratic governments to defeat transnational terrorism and ensure the safety, prosperity, and well-being of all people in the hemisphere."

This year’s CICTE session brings together delegations from the 34 OAS member states to evaluate existing policies and to develop new strategies for hemispheric communication, cooperation, and training in combating the threat of transnational terror.

Among the key issues addressed at this year’s conference are travel document security, building on last year’s successful efforts to expand CICTE’s mission beyond terrorism financing, enhancing border security to address threats to transportation and cyber security. This year’s meeting will also reaffirm hemispheric recognition as reflected in United Nations Security Council resolutions, and OAS conventions and resolutions on the connections between terrorism and illicit transnational activities, such as illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, organized crime, and drug trafficking, which pose serious threats to hemispheric security.

CICTE was established in 1999 to foster a cooperative multilateral approach to counter-terrorism. For more information on this year’s CICTE session, visit online at www.cicte.oas.org.