A significant
step in the regional fight against money laundering and terrorism
will take place in Bali, 17-18 December 2002 when Australia
and Indonesia co-host a regional conference on combating money
laundering and terrorist financing. The decision to co-host
the conference was announced by the Indonesian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Dr Hassan Wirajuda and the Australian Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer on 15 September this year.
The
conference will be officially opened by the Australian Minister
for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison and Dr Wirajuda,
and attended by senior officials from some thirty countries
around the Asia-Pacific Rim Rim, as well as senior officials
from key international organisations and the private sector
with expertise in the field, including the United Nations Counter
Terrorism Committee, the World Bank, the IMF, the Asian Development
Bank, the Financial Action Task Force and the Asia Pacific Group
on Money Laundering.
This
conference is aimed at augmenting and contributing to the existing
initiatives undertaken at regional and international level.
Both countries believe that the conference will assist all countries
in the region to strengthen their efforts to prevent and counter
money laundering and the financing of terrorism, particularly
by identifying capacity-building needs to meet the existing
and new efforts.
The
co-hosting of this conference highlights the continuing commitment
of Indonesia and Australia to combat terrorist financing and
money laundering in the region. It builds on the Memorandum
of Understanding between Indonesia and Australia on Combating
International Terrorism signed by the two countries in February
in this year.
The
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr
Hassan Wirajuda stated that although the choice of Bali as the
venue for the conference was made before the tragic events of
12 October, he believes that the location would be a reminder
to all participating countries of their efforts and commitment
to continue effectively fighting terrorism in the region.
The
Minister for Justice and Customs of Australia, Senator Ellison,
expressed his hope that the conference would signify that all
nations in the Asia Pacific Rim were prepared to work together
to try to prevent a repeat of the horrific events in Bali.
