HAITI FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXERCISE GREATER

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001837

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO TREASURY/TFFC LADAN ARCHIN, ISN/CPI MICHELLE
NEW, WHA FOR ELIZABETH JAFFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON MNUC PARM PREL HA
SUBJECT: HAITI FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXERCISE GREATER
SCRUTINY IN DEALING WITH IRANIAN ENTITIES

REF: SECSTATE 149648

1.(U) Reftel points were discussed November 6 and November 16
with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Economic Affairs
and Cooperation Christian Toussaint. Toussaint said the
Government of Haiti (GoH) cooperates actively with the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Haiti's Central Bank and
the Ministry of Economics and Finance's financial
intelligence unit, the Central Unit for Financial Information
(French acronym UCREF),work closely with the FATF. This
cooperation was important to realize GoH objectives to fight
corruption, money-laundering and terrorist financing.

2.(U) Toussaint said that since year 2002, Haiti has
circulated the list of terrorists and terrorist organizations
identified in UN Security Council Resolution 1267. The list
is ''always'' passed to the Ministry of Economics and Finance
for tracking, he added.

3.(U) Toussaint said he would communicate the necessity of
greater scrutiny of transactions involving Iran or Iranian
entities to the GoH institutions noted above. However, he
was certain there was minimal Iranian activity in Haiti's
economy and financial institutions.

4.(U) Toussaint acknowledged that GoH institutional
weaknesses made it difficult to track illicit funds and
contraband and therefore appreciated FATF advisories as
important to help ensure greater vigilance by Haiti's
financial institutions in tracking suspect activities of all
kinds.
SANDERSON