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Syria to Sign Counter-Terrorism Financing Convention: An Empty Gesture!

By Victor Comras

Syria has announced its intention to sign the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism Financing. Under the treaty, states must "make the provision of such funding a criminal offence under their domestic laws, and confiscate assets allocated for terrorist purposes". Normally, this would be an important milestone in joining the international effort to combat terrorism. But, in Syrias case, it looks like another empty gesture. Syria has long proclaimed that there are no al Qaeda cells in Syria nor funds held there on its behalf (See Syria's Report to the 1267 Committee). And the counter terrorism financing treaty is not likely to deter Syria from providing funds to Iraqi insurgents, or to Hizballah, Hamas or the PFLP.

Syrias new found interest in supporting UN counter-terrorism measures, like its pull back from Lebanon, may just be part of a defensive gambit to defuse the intense pressure resulting from the Harari assassination and growing evidence linking Syria to the Iraq insurgency. The real test will be Syrias willingness to distance itself from the Iraq insurgents, and to cut off their channel of funds from Syria and Lebanon. Its even harder to imagine that Syria will sever its financial and other support ties to Hizballah, Hamas and the PFLP. In fact, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Shara has made it clear, time and again, that Syria considers these groups as freedom fighters and not terrorists. In the absence of a no wiggle-room definition of terrorism, Syrias signature on the Suppression of Terrorism Financing Convention is not likely to have an impact on its support for any of these groups.

Syrias role in the war on terrorism has been ambiguous at best. While it has provided some intelligence and interrogation assistance in dealing with al Qaeda, it remains high on the list of countries designated as supporting terrorism. Its links with Hizballah and the PFLP are as strong as ever. And funds continue to flow from Syria, along with volunteers, to fuel Zarqari and other Iraq insurgent groups. The U.S Treasury Department, last May,.designated the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS) as a funding conduit for the Iraqi insurgents. CBS was also directly implicated in laundering money for Saddam Hussein and his regime, as part of the Oil for Food scandal. This, despite the fact that Syria has long exercised an iron hand of control over its state run banks, and the informal hawala system that operates within its borders.

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