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Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) Adopts New Law on International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism

Strengthening International Cooperation to Combat Terrorism and Freeze Terrorist Funds

Skopje, November 15, 2018 - The Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) has adopted a new law aimed at strengthening international cooperation in combating terrorism and freezing terrorist funds.

Key Features of the New Law

  • Replaces previous legislation with a clear and comprehensive framework for freezing terrorist funds
  • Ensures that all natural and legal persons in the country are subject to freezing obligations, regardless of whether they are designated by the government or not
  • Allows the government to introduce financial measures based on requests from competent authorities of another state

Request Requirements

  • Requests must contain data enabling the precise identification of the person or entity to be designated
  • Requests must be reasoned as to the grounds for suspicion that the subject is involved in or connected to terrorist activity

Extending Financial Measures

  • Possibility of extending financial measures to assets controlled by designated persons

Protection for Bona Fide Third Parties

  • Art. 16 of the Law provides protection to the interests of bona fide third parties affected by the freezing mechanism
  • Such parties may submit a request to a competent court for provisioning independent rights over property that is subject to financial measures

Deficiencies Remains Partially Unaddressed

  • Deficiency No. 5 remains partially unaddressed, as the law does not provide publicly known procedures for considering de-listing requests and unfreezing funds or other assets of delisted persons or entities and persons inadvertently affected by a freezing mechanism

Next Steps

  • The MFA has committed to continue working on addressing Deficiency No. 5 and implementing publicly known procedures for considering de-listing requests and unfreezing assets
  • Adoption of the new law is a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to combat terrorism and freeze terrorist funds.

Source: Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) Press Release, November 15, 2018.