Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SOFIA1301
2007-11-09 15:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
FATF/IRAN STATEMENT: FULL BULGARIAN SUPPORT ON
how-toVZCZCXRO3066 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSF #1301 3131503 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091503Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4504 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0201 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, EUR/PGI, T, IO/PSC
STATE ALSO FOR ISN/CPI (MNEW) AND EUR/WE (TSMITH)
TREASURY FOR TFFC (LARCHIN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN KNNP IR BU
SUBJECT: FATF/IRAN STATEMENT: FULL BULGARIAN SUPPORT ON
THE FINANCIAL FRONT
REF: A) STATE 149649 B) STATE 148605
Classified By: POLECON Chief Jim Bigus for reasons 1.4b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, EUR/PGI, T, IO/PSC
STATE ALSO FOR ISN/CPI (MNEW) AND EUR/WE (TSMITH)
TREASURY FOR TFFC (LARCHIN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN KNNP IR BU
SUBJECT: FATF/IRAN STATEMENT: FULL BULGARIAN SUPPORT ON
THE FINANCIAL FRONT
REF: A) STATE 149649 B) STATE 148605
Classified By: POLECON Chief Jim Bigus for reasons 1.4b and d.
1. (C) Econoff delivered ref A and B demarches to Dr. Vasil
Kirov, Director of the Bulgarian Financial Intelligence
Agency (FIA) on 02 November. Appropriately, Dr. Kirov, is
also the current Chairman of MONEYVAL, one of the leading
"FATF-style" Regional Bodies (FSRB). Dr. Kirov was fully
supportive of the FATF statement on Iran and provided
assurances that all Bulgarian banking institutions would be
informed via an official FIA circular announcement on 05
November about the dangers that the Iranian financial system
posed in the areas of proliferation activities, money
laundering, and financing of terrorism. Dr. Kirov also
promised to disseminate ref B information to the Bulgarian
banking community's compliance officers per FIA's standard
operating practice. It is worth noting that despite
Bulgaria's 2007 entry and compliance with EU rules and
regulations, the FIA has directed and repeatedly encouraged
Bulgarian banks to utilize the Department of Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Internet website to
serve as a baseline of information on various people and
entities "of concern". On 05 November, Post received a copy
of the FIA circular announcement which uses many of ref A
talking points verbatim.
2. (C) Kirov stated that he expected the FATF/FIA circular
to generate an increase in "suspicious transaction reports"
(STRs) which he would subsequently share with Post as
appropriate. The FIA summarized overall Iranian financial
activity in Bulgaria as "low", noting that most of the local
Iranian expatriate and student communities dealt in frequent,
but low dollar amount, financial transactions. That said,
Kirov confided that the FIA remained on the lookout for an
increase in Iranian business investments due to Bulgaria's
new EU membership and a booming real estate market throughout
the country. Post will follow up and report any substantive
information received or additional actions taken.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT, EUR/PGI, T, IO/PSC
STATE ALSO FOR ISN/CPI (MNEW) AND EUR/WE (TSMITH)
TREASURY FOR TFFC (LARCHIN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN KNNP IR BU
SUBJECT: FATF/IRAN STATEMENT: FULL BULGARIAN SUPPORT ON
THE FINANCIAL FRONT
REF: A) STATE 149649 B) STATE 148605
Classified By: POLECON Chief Jim Bigus for reasons 1.4b and d.
1. (C) Econoff delivered ref A and B demarches to Dr. Vasil
Kirov, Director of the Bulgarian Financial Intelligence
Agency (FIA) on 02 November. Appropriately, Dr. Kirov, is
also the current Chairman of MONEYVAL, one of the leading
"FATF-style" Regional Bodies (FSRB). Dr. Kirov was fully
supportive of the FATF statement on Iran and provided
assurances that all Bulgarian banking institutions would be
informed via an official FIA circular announcement on 05
November about the dangers that the Iranian financial system
posed in the areas of proliferation activities, money
laundering, and financing of terrorism. Dr. Kirov also
promised to disseminate ref B information to the Bulgarian
banking community's compliance officers per FIA's standard
operating practice. It is worth noting that despite
Bulgaria's 2007 entry and compliance with EU rules and
regulations, the FIA has directed and repeatedly encouraged
Bulgarian banks to utilize the Department of Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Internet website to
serve as a baseline of information on various people and
entities "of concern". On 05 November, Post received a copy
of the FIA circular announcement which uses many of ref A
talking points verbatim.
2. (C) Kirov stated that he expected the FATF/FIA circular
to generate an increase in "suspicious transaction reports"
(STRs) which he would subsequently share with Post as
appropriate. The FIA summarized overall Iranian financial
activity in Bulgaria as "low", noting that most of the local
Iranian expatriate and student communities dealt in frequent,
but low dollar amount, financial transactions. That said,
Kirov confided that the FIA remained on the lookout for an
increase in Iranian business investments due to Bulgaria's
new EU membership and a booming real estate market throughout
the country. Post will follow up and report any substantive
information received or additional actions taken.
Beyrle