Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI1901
2004-06-08 12:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE CENTRAL BANK AND FINCEN CO-HOST AML TRAINING
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 02/06/2007 05:43:08 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM June 08, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1901 - ROUTINE) TAGS: EFIN, ETTC, PREL, PTER, PGOV Captions: None Subject: UAE CENTRAL BANK AND FINCEN CO-HOST AML TRAINING FOR SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 01901 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: CCRUMPLER CLEARED: NONE VZCZCADI993 RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEATRS RUEAWJA RHEHNSC RUEHDE RUEHKA RUEHLM RUEHIL RUEHKP RUEHNE RUEHBUL DE RUEHAD #1901 1601259 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081259Z JUN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4670 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 4054 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0194 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0093 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1268 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0075 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1221 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0169
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001901
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP FOR HEFFERNAN, NEA/RA FOR SUTPHIN
EB/ESC/ESP, INL/C, INL/ENT, S/CT FOR REALUYO
TREASURY FOR ENFORCEMENT FOR JUAN ZARATE
TREASURY PASS FINCEN FOR FOX, OCC FOR BLACKER, OFAC FOR
NEWCOMB
JUSTICE FOR ASSET FOREFEITURE AND ML UNIT - DAVITT,
GREENBERG
JUSTICE PASS OPDAT FOR SILVERWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER PGOV TC
SUBJECT: UAE CENTRAL BANK AND FINCEN CO-HOST AML TRAINING
FOR SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001901
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP FOR HEFFERNAN, NEA/RA FOR SUTPHIN
EB/ESC/ESP, INL/C, INL/ENT, S/CT FOR REALUYO
TREASURY FOR ENFORCEMENT FOR JUAN ZARATE
TREASURY PASS FINCEN FOR FOX, OCC FOR BLACKER, OFAC FOR
NEWCOMB
JUSTICE FOR ASSET FOREFEITURE AND ML UNIT - DAVITT,
GREENBERG
JUSTICE PASS OPDAT FOR SILVERWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER PGOV TC
SUBJECT: UAE CENTRAL BANK AND FINCEN CO-HOST AML TRAINING
FOR SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES
1. (U) SUMMARY: THE UAE CENTRAL BANK'S ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING AND SUSPICIOUS CASES UNIT (AMLSCU) AND FINCEN CO-
HOSTED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) TRAINING FOR SOUTH ASIAN
COUNTRIES, JUNE 5-7 IN ABU DHABI. FIFTEEN CENTRAL BANK AND
MINISTRY OF FINANCE OFFICIALS FROM AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN,
BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA, AND THE MALDIVES ATTENDED, AS WELL AS
THE ECONOMIC OFFICER FROM THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA'S EMBASSY IN
ABU DHABI. THESE COUNTRIES HAVE EITHER NONEXISTENT OR
NASCENT AML REGIMES, AND THE SEMINAR PROVIDED NUTS AND BOLTS
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD A FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT
(FIU). END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) IN ADDITION TO PRESENTATIONS BY THE AMLSCU AND
FINCEN, SPEAKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT, FDIC, DOJ AND ACADEMIA
PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT AND DISCUSSED INTERNATIONAL AML
STANDARDS, THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF A FIU IN AN ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING REGIME, FIU INTERFACE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
REGULATORS, SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING, BANK COMPLIANCE
ISSUES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND HAWALA. THE
PRESENTATION ON HAWALA SPARKED A PARTICULARLY LIVELY DEBATE
AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT CURRENCY CONTROLS AND THE
LEGALITY OF INFORMAL MONEY TRANSFERS. ALL PARTICIPANTS
COMMENDED THE UAE CENTRAL BANK FOR ITS EFFORTS TO REGISTER
AND MONITOR HAWALADARS.
3. (SBU) THE SOUTH ASIAN OFFICIALS ALSO DESCRIBED THEIR
RESPECTIVE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING REGIMES AND INITIAL STEPS
TO CREATE A FIU. INTERESTINGLY, THE FINANCIAL SECTORS AND
BANKING REGULATIONS VARY WIDELY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
THE AFGHAN REPS WERE VERY KEEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UAE'S
HAWALA REGISTRATION PROGRAM, AND CLAIMED THAT HAWALA IS THE
"NORM" FOR TRANSFERRING MONEY IN AFGHANISTAN. THE PAKISTANI
DELEGATION EXPLAINED THAT ITS `KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER' (KYC)
REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT A LONG-TIME ACCOUNT HOLDER, OR
"INTRODUCER," SPONSOR A NEW CUSTOMER WHO WANTS TO OPEN A
BANK ACCOUNT. THIS SYSTEM WORKS WELL IN A PAKISTAN, WHERE
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS VERIFYING THEIR
IDENTITY. IN ADDITION, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MALDIVES
PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE SIZE OF THE MALDIVIAN FINANCIAL
SECTOR AND NOTED THAT TOURISM ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 35 PERCENT
OF THE COUNTRY'S GDP.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT OFFICIALS
FROM SOUTH ASIA HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR AML TRAINING BY
FINCEN. THE SESSION LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUBSEQUENT
REGIONAL COOPERATION. THE SEMINAR ALSO PROVIDED AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UAE CENTRAL BANK TO SHOWCASE ITS OWN
ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST
FINANCING. UAE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SULTAN BIN NASSER AL-
SUWEIDI NOTED IN HIS OPENING REMARKS THAT THIS TRAINING WAS
THE 75TH AML TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE UAE CENTRAL BANK SINCE
9/11, AND PRIVATELY ASKED ECONCHIEF ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF
CO-SPONSORING WITH FINCEN SIMILAR PROGRAMS FOR ARAB STATES,
INCLUDING THE ARAB LEAGUE AND SEPARATELY, THE GCC. END
COMMENT.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP FOR HEFFERNAN, NEA/RA FOR SUTPHIN
EB/ESC/ESP, INL/C, INL/ENT, S/CT FOR REALUYO
TREASURY FOR ENFORCEMENT FOR JUAN ZARATE
TREASURY PASS FINCEN FOR FOX, OCC FOR BLACKER, OFAC FOR
NEWCOMB
JUSTICE FOR ASSET FOREFEITURE AND ML UNIT - DAVITT,
GREENBERG
JUSTICE PASS OPDAT FOR SILVERWOOD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER PGOV TC
SUBJECT: UAE CENTRAL BANK AND FINCEN CO-HOST AML TRAINING
FOR SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES
1. (U) SUMMARY: THE UAE CENTRAL BANK'S ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING AND SUSPICIOUS CASES UNIT (AMLSCU) AND FINCEN CO-
HOSTED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) TRAINING FOR SOUTH ASIAN
COUNTRIES, JUNE 5-7 IN ABU DHABI. FIFTEEN CENTRAL BANK AND
MINISTRY OF FINANCE OFFICIALS FROM AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN,
BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA, AND THE MALDIVES ATTENDED, AS WELL AS
THE ECONOMIC OFFICER FROM THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA'S EMBASSY IN
ABU DHABI. THESE COUNTRIES HAVE EITHER NONEXISTENT OR
NASCENT AML REGIMES, AND THE SEMINAR PROVIDED NUTS AND BOLTS
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD A FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT
(FIU). END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) IN ADDITION TO PRESENTATIONS BY THE AMLSCU AND
FINCEN, SPEAKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT, FDIC, DOJ AND ACADEMIA
PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT AND DISCUSSED INTERNATIONAL AML
STANDARDS, THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF A FIU IN AN ANTI-MONEY
LAUNDERING REGIME, FIU INTERFACE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
REGULATORS, SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING, BANK COMPLIANCE
ISSUES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND HAWALA. THE
PRESENTATION ON HAWALA SPARKED A PARTICULARLY LIVELY DEBATE
AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT CURRENCY CONTROLS AND THE
LEGALITY OF INFORMAL MONEY TRANSFERS. ALL PARTICIPANTS
COMMENDED THE UAE CENTRAL BANK FOR ITS EFFORTS TO REGISTER
AND MONITOR HAWALADARS.
3. (SBU) THE SOUTH ASIAN OFFICIALS ALSO DESCRIBED THEIR
RESPECTIVE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING REGIMES AND INITIAL STEPS
TO CREATE A FIU. INTERESTINGLY, THE FINANCIAL SECTORS AND
BANKING REGULATIONS VARY WIDELY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
THE AFGHAN REPS WERE VERY KEEN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UAE'S
HAWALA REGISTRATION PROGRAM, AND CLAIMED THAT HAWALA IS THE
"NORM" FOR TRANSFERRING MONEY IN AFGHANISTAN. THE PAKISTANI
DELEGATION EXPLAINED THAT ITS `KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER' (KYC)
REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT A LONG-TIME ACCOUNT HOLDER, OR
"INTRODUCER," SPONSOR A NEW CUSTOMER WHO WANTS TO OPEN A
BANK ACCOUNT. THIS SYSTEM WORKS WELL IN A PAKISTAN, WHERE
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS VERIFYING THEIR
IDENTITY. IN ADDITION, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MALDIVES
PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE SIZE OF THE MALDIVIAN FINANCIAL
SECTOR AND NOTED THAT TOURISM ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 35 PERCENT
OF THE COUNTRY'S GDP.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT OFFICIALS
FROM SOUTH ASIA HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR AML TRAINING BY
FINCEN. THE SESSION LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUBSEQUENT
REGIONAL COOPERATION. THE SEMINAR ALSO PROVIDED AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UAE CENTRAL BANK TO SHOWCASE ITS OWN
ACHIEVEMENTS IN COMBATING MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST
FINANCING. UAE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SULTAN BIN NASSER AL-
SUWEIDI NOTED IN HIS OPENING REMARKS THAT THIS TRAINING WAS
THE 75TH AML TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE UAE CENTRAL BANK SINCE
9/11, AND PRIVATELY ASKED ECONCHIEF ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF
CO-SPONSORING WITH FINCEN SIMILAR PROGRAMS FOR ARAB STATES,
INCLUDING THE ARAB LEAGUE AND SEPARATELY, THE GCC. END
COMMENT.
WAHBA