UNCLAS ROME 000659

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFC - GLASS/SALOOM
IO/PHO, L/EB
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, ROSS AND WALLWORTH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PREL IZ IT UNSC
SUBJECT: IRAQI ASSETS: ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERING RAFIDAIN
BANK ASSETS

REF: A. SECSTATE 36435


B. ROME 611

C. ROME 385

D. ROME 227


1. (U) INFORMATION CONTAINED IN REF A WAS DELIVERED TO
ROBERTO CICIANI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE ON MONEY-LAUNDERING
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES, FINANCE MINISTRY, ON FEBRUARY 20. HE
INDICATED HE WOULD SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ITALY'S
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT, THE UFFICIO ITALIANO DEI CAMBI
(UIC).


2. (SBU) REF C INCLUDED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE GOI ON
RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS. THE GOI CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF
RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS IN BANCA NAZIONALE DI LAVORO, UBAE ARAB
ITALIAN BANK, AND UNICREDITO ITALIANO SPA. AS REPORTED IN
REF D, UNICREDITO ITALIANO TRANSFERRED RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS
OF EURO 2,234.93 AND USD 662.34 TO THE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR
IRAQ ON DECEMBER 18. THE GOI DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION
REGARDING RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS HELD BY BANCA INTESA MILANO.


3. (SBU) FINANCE MINISTER TREMONTI AND FINANCE SECRETARY
GENERAL SINISCALCO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR ON FEBRUARY 17 (REF B)
THAT FINANCE AND UIC ARE PRESSING BANKS TO RELEASE AND
TRANSFER ASSETS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
SEMBLER



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2004ROME00659 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED