As prepared for delivery...

Ambassador’s Remarks at the Opening of the
Joel Meyerowitz exhibit entitled
“After September 11: Images from Ground Zero”

Nicosia Fulbright Center
March 5, 2003

Good morning.  Today I am pleased to announce the launch in Cyprus of the Rewards for Justice Program.  This is a new tool in the international war on terrorism.

As its name suggests, this program provides a way for people here to strike a blow against terrorists and receive up to $5 million for their contribution.

How do you qualify and what should you do?   If you have information leading to the dismantling of any system or scheme used to finance a terrorist organization or information leading to the arrest or conviction of those who planned or aided in any act of terrorism against U.S. persons or property, please contact the U.S. Embassy on a special dedicated line at 22-772-027.  The United States Government is offering up to $5 million for such information.  You can provide this information in complete confidence.

Now some background on the program.  Last November, under the auspices of the U.S. Government’s Rewards for Justice Program, the U.S. Treasury and State Departments joined forces and launched a new campaign targeted at terrorist financing.  This campaign aims to cut off the oxygen of terrorist groups – the financing that they need to carry out their deadly activities. 

The logic of the program is simple: international terrorism is financed by funds sent from sources around the world.  Therefore, we must disrupt and stop that flow of money.  To do this we need to gain new information and insights into how terrorists and their financiers move their money. 

The Rewards for Justice Program was originally established in 1984.  The campaign we are introducing today is the first under this program designed specifically to elicit information on terrorist financing.  To demonstrate our commitment and determination to fight terrorist financing, we are offering, as I said, rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the dismantling of any system or scheme used to finance a terrorist organization or information leading to the arrest or conviction of those who planned or aided in any act of terrorism against U.S. persons or property

The Rewards for Justice Program has been very effective.  In the past seven years, the United States has paid more than $9.5 million to 23 people who provided credible information that prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide or put terrorists behind bars.  Here are some examples:

• The greatest success story was probably the arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the convicted mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.  In February 1995, Yousef was in Pakistan planning to blow up 12 U.S. airlines over the Pacific Ocean.  Thanks to information provided by a brave informant, Yousef was arrested and convicted of his terrorist crimes.  The informant received a reward.

• A young woman, a student at a foreign university, witnessed the brutal assassination of a U.S. diplomat.  As a result of the information she provided, two attackers were convicted to life imprisonment.  The student received a reward.

• In another case, a young woman came forward with information regarding aircraft hijackers who brutally beat passengers.  The hijackers’ team leader was returned to the U.S. and is imprisoned on air piracy charges. The young woman received an award.

• The Rewards for Justice Program also saves lives.  Forty-eight hours before the planned bombing of an airport, a brave young man stepped forward with information.  The terrorist had already assembled automatic weapons, grenades, and explosives.  The bombing was stopped, the young man received a significant reward and his family was relocated to a safe place.  Hundreds of lives were saved.

There are a number of active Rewards for Justice campaigns, including one for the terrorists behind the September 11 attacks.  Additionally, there is one for the October, 2000 attack against USS Cole in the harbor at Aden, Yemen, which took the lives of 17 sailors and wounded 30 others.  There is also a campaign for the 1998, terrorist bombings of U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which claimed hundreds of lives.

Although the law governing the Rewards Program is aimed at terrorism directed against Americans, the United States shares information received with other nations whose citizens are at risk, protecting the identities of those who provide us with the information.  Every government and every citizen has a stake in bringing terrorists to justice and in preventing acts of terrorism.

Through this program, we hope to enlist the assistance of people around the world to generate critical leads that will stop the flow of money to terrorists, disrupt their operations, and  thus protect innocent lives of people everywhere.

We are making progress in the war on terrorism.  The capture this weekend of Sheik Mohammed, one of the top Al-Qaeda operatives, is another milestone in the world’s efforts to eliminate terrorist organizations of international reach.  Much has been accomplished since September 11, 2001: Afghanistan has been liberated from terrorist control; over 3,000 terrorist suspects have been detained in over 100 countries; over 165 countries and jurisdictions have blocking orders in force against terrorist entities; and almost one hundred and twenty five million dollars in terrorist assets have been frozen.  Of course, much remains to be done.  It will take time, hard work and strong commitment from all of us to defeat this scourge.

Ever since September 11, Cyprus has been a valuable partner in the campaign to combat terrorism.  Its geographic position and regional links make it an especially important member of the international coalition.  I have repeatedly expressed our deep appreciation for the level of commitment that exists here. 

Now, I hope you will help us spread the word about the Rewards for Justice program in order to stop the flow of blood money and save lives.  Further information about this program is available on our Embassy's web-site at www.americanembassy.org.cy.  We will be distributing larger posters as well.

In sum, for anyone who has information leading to the dismantling of any system or scheme used to finance a terrorist organization or information leading to the arrest or conviction of those who planned or aided in any act of terrorism against U.S. persons or property, please contact the U.S. Embassy on its special dedicated line at 22-772-027.  You can also submit such information at a mail-drop box (American Embassy, P.O. Box 27894, 2434 Nicosia).  The United States Government is offering rewards up to $5 million. I assure you that any information that will be given to us about individuals or organizations that finance terrorists will be kept strictly confidential.  

Thanks for your attention.  Now, the Embassy’s Regional Security Officer, Chris Schurman, who is responsible for local administration of the program, and I would be glad to take any questions you might have.