The US has commended the Cyprus government’s contribution to international counterterrorism efforts, noting among others that “the Cypriots successfully prosecuted Hossam Yaacoub Taleb, a Lebanese Hizballah operative, for conducting surveillance activities on Israeli targets in Cyprus.”

“The Government of the Republic of Cyprus collaborated closely with the United States, the EU, and other countries – bilaterally and multilaterally – in international counterterrorism efforts,” the State Department`s 2013 Report on Terrorism issued on Wednesday said.

It noted that “Cyprus` counterterrorism partnership with the United States included regular, routine protection for transiting U.S. military personnel, aircraft, and naval vessels throughout 2013; and participation in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance and Regional Security Initiative programs, which strengthened the government’s capacity to counter terrorism.”

Referring to the ongoing, since 1974, division of the island, the report noted that “Turkish Cypriots lacked the legal and institutional framework necessary to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism effectively. Within these limitations, however, Turkish Cypriots cooperated in pursuing specific counterterrorism objectives,” it is noted.

The report said that “in 2013, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, in his capacity as Cyprus` National Counterterrorism Coordinator, supervised an ad hoc interagency committee to draft a new National Counterterrorism Strategy for the Republic of Cyprus that will be based on the four pillars of the corresponding EU strategy: `Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Respond.`”

“The strategy’s aim is to reduce the terrorist threat in Cyprus while safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms. The committee consulted relevant government departments of the Republic of Cyprus and cooperated with similar authorities in the UK and the United States to prepare the strategy,” it is added.

According to the report, “the United States funded a seminar on Integrating Counterterrorism Strategies at the national level,” while other US training programs have strengthened the capacity of Cypriot judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement to adjudicate terrorist cases and strengthen border protection.

The report also elaborated on the Cyprus Police screening watchlist mechanism and the strategic plan to combat illegal immigration and relevant cross-border crime, prepared by the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Cyprus Police, in cooperation with FRONTEX.

It said that Cypriot law enforcement received and examined some reports of suspected terrorist activities, but they found no evidence of terrorism. “There was no noticeable activity of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in 2013. Based on threat information and assessments, proportionate security measures were put in place for the protection of western interests and soft targets,” the report added.

It also referred to the fact that in April and May, Cyprus was reviewed by a special committee of experts from Moneyval and the IMF as part of a general bailout of the country’s banking sector, noting that “Cyprus has pledged to strengthen the regulation of its significant international business sector given the anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) risks this sector poses in its current structure.”

It also said that Cyprus executed formal requests for legal assistance submitted by other countries (EU as well as third countries), including the recognition and enforcement by Cyprus’ courts of foreign freezing and confiscation orders.

It noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prepared, in cooperation with MOKAS, a draft bill imposing penalties in cases of violations or attempts to circumvent sanctions. “At year’s end, the bill was pending approval first by the Council of Ministers and then by the Republic of Cyprus’ House of Representatives. A proposed legislation, that was pending approval, at the year`s end, aims to criminalize infringements of UNSCRs and relevant sanctions adopted by the EU, as well as impose effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties,” the report said.

Furthermore it said, among others, that Cyprus participated in counterterrorism initiatives of the UN, the OSCE, and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended meetings of the Working Group on the External Aspects of Terrorism of the Council of the EU (COTER), and is represented at the Global Counterterrorism Forum by the European External Action Service (EEAS), as the EU is a full member of the organization.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.