Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK94
2006-01-31 14:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
GOB Ready to Cooperate to Fight Money
how-toVZCZCXRO7724 RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0094 0311431 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 311431Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3689 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS MINSK 000094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KCRM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: GOB Ready to Cooperate to Fight Money
Laundering
UNCLAS MINSK 000094
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KCRM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: GOB Ready to Cooperate to Fight Money
Laundering
1. (U) In a surprisingly cooperative meeting between
Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and members of the State
Control Committee (SCC),the GOB was responsive to
Post's request for information on GOB practices to
combat money laundering and terrorism finance. On
January 5, 2005, DCM met with Director of the
Department of Financial Monitoring (DFM) Valery
Yaroshevsky and several other SCC officials to secure
answers for the annual International Narcotics Control
Strategy Report on money laundering and terrorist
finance prevention in Belarus. [Note: DFM is the
official name for the Belarusian Financial Intelligence
Unit.] In contrast to Post's previous requests for
information from the GOB, the officials readily
provided copious amounts of valuable information on the
overall banking system, state controls on money
laundering and the structure and operations of the
Belarusian State Control Committee, which oversees all
financial inspections and investigations in Belarus.
2. (U) During the meeting, Yaroshevsky requested Post's
assistance in establi3hing working relations with U.S.
FINCEN. Yaroshevsky stated the lack of such relations
prevents the DFM from verifying sources of income
allegedly received from the U.S. Yaroshevsky claimed
the DFM has attempted to work with FINCEN in the past,
but have been denied help. As evidence of their
rebuked attempts to request assistance, Yaroshevsky
passed DCM a copy of FINCEN's response to a DFM's
inquiry that stated cooperation with Belarus is not
possible until after it joins Egmont group. [Note:
Belarus has applied for membership to the Egmont group,
but its membership application is still pending.]
3. (SBU) Similar to combating trafficking in persons,
fighting money laundering and terrorism finance is an
issue of mutual interest with potential for useful
cooperation with the GOB. The GOB is clearly
interested in demonstrating its efforts to combat money
laundering and terrorism finance and has offered
additional unsolicited meetings on banking issues with
the National Bank of Belarus and the Ministry of the
Interior. Although the Belarusians may highlight the
contact as showing we have "normal" relations, we think
it worthwhile to maintain and increase as we can these
working level contracts. Post, therefore, urges
Washington to consider facilitating developments of
working level contacts between the DFM and FINCEN.
Krol
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KCRM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: GOB Ready to Cooperate to Fight Money
Laundering
1. (U) In a surprisingly cooperative meeting between
Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and members of the State
Control Committee (SCC),the GOB was responsive to
Post's request for information on GOB practices to
combat money laundering and terrorism finance. On
January 5, 2005, DCM met with Director of the
Department of Financial Monitoring (DFM) Valery
Yaroshevsky and several other SCC officials to secure
answers for the annual International Narcotics Control
Strategy Report on money laundering and terrorist
finance prevention in Belarus. [Note: DFM is the
official name for the Belarusian Financial Intelligence
Unit.] In contrast to Post's previous requests for
information from the GOB, the officials readily
provided copious amounts of valuable information on the
overall banking system, state controls on money
laundering and the structure and operations of the
Belarusian State Control Committee, which oversees all
financial inspections and investigations in Belarus.
2. (U) During the meeting, Yaroshevsky requested Post's
assistance in establi3hing working relations with U.S.
FINCEN. Yaroshevsky stated the lack of such relations
prevents the DFM from verifying sources of income
allegedly received from the U.S. Yaroshevsky claimed
the DFM has attempted to work with FINCEN in the past,
but have been denied help. As evidence of their
rebuked attempts to request assistance, Yaroshevsky
passed DCM a copy of FINCEN's response to a DFM's
inquiry that stated cooperation with Belarus is not
possible until after it joins Egmont group. [Note:
Belarus has applied for membership to the Egmont group,
but its membership application is still pending.]
3. (SBU) Similar to combating trafficking in persons,
fighting money laundering and terrorism finance is an
issue of mutual interest with potential for useful
cooperation with the GOB. The GOB is clearly
interested in demonstrating its efforts to combat money
laundering and terrorism finance and has offered
additional unsolicited meetings on banking issues with
the National Bank of Belarus and the Ministry of the
Interior. Although the Belarusians may highlight the
contact as showing we have "normal" relations, we think
it worthwhile to maintain and increase as we can these
working level contracts. Post, therefore, urges
Washington to consider facilitating developments of
working level contacts between the DFM and FINCEN.
Krol