LATVIAN RESPONSE: DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN ENTITIES

UNCLAS RIGA 000823 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN KNNP PREL PARM LG SUBJECT: LATVIAN RESPONSE: DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS UNDER U.S. EXECUTIVE ORDERS REF: SECSTATE 148605 ¶1. Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Judite Dobele, the GOL MFA Head of the Middle Eastern Division. Dobele stated that the GOL has taken concrete steps to assure that there is no participation in terrorism financing. One indication of this is Latvian commercial banks' mandate to investigate cash transactions of over 10,000 euros, and submission of suspisious activity reports. She regretted the 2005 U.S. severe 311 action against Latvia. Dobele stated that the GOL is doing everything possible to restrict all illegal actions in the banking sector. ¶2. Dobele stated that they do not know of any Iranian businesses in Latvia, but that the GOL has complied with all aspects of the U.N. declaration. SELDOWITZ