Swiss law enforcement authorities have frozen 72 bank accounts holding a total of $20 million, as part of the global crackdown on suspected terror funds, following the September 11 attacks on the US.
"Since September 11, 2001, the Swiss authorities have been cooperating with the United States and the UN sanctions committee by blocking 72 accounts," said Jacques de Watteville, head of the financial and economic affairs division at the Swiss foreign ministry.
De Watteville, addressing a Swiss Business Council meeting in Abu Dhabi provided no further details. "We had fruitful discussions on money laundering and terrorist financing," de Watteville said of his earlier talks with Emirati central bank governor Sultan Nasser Al-Suwaidi, according to AFP.
"On several occasions, American authorities have praised the Swiss efforts in tracing and blocking terrorist-related accounts," he said in reference to his country's famously secretive banking system.
An "operative working arrangement" was signed with the United States last week to further strengthen cooperation with the Swiss enforcement and investigation authorities, de Watteville said. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
