Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SOFIA307
2007-03-08 09:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

NO BULGARIAN INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL

Tags:  PREL KNNP KN PARM BU IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9503
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSF #0307 0670922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080922Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3358
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SOFIA 000307 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN, T, EUR, EAP, NEA
DEPT PASS TO TREASURY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP KN PARM BU IR
SUBJECT: NO BULGARIAN INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL
DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN ENTITIES, BUT VIGILANCE CONTINUES

REF: A. A) SECSTATE 19366


B. B) SECSTATE 19372

C. C) SECSTATE 23001

D. D) SECSTATE 24344

UNCLAS SOFIA 000307

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN, T, EUR, EAP, NEA
DEPT PASS TO TREASURY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP KN PARM BU IR
SUBJECT: NO BULGARIAN INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL
DESIGNATIONS OF IRANIAN ENTITIES, BUT VIGILANCE CONTINUES

REF: A. A) SECSTATE 19366


B. B) SECSTATE 19372

C. C) SECSTATE 23001

D. D) SECSTATE 24344


1. (SBU) On 19 February, Post delivered ref A information
on the additional designations of Iranian entities under E.O.
13382 to Dr. Vasil Kirov, Director of the Bulgarian Financial
Agency (FIA). Dr. Kirov is Post's main point of contact for
addressing the financial and banking aspects of money
laundering, terrorist financing, WMD proliferation, and
current UN sanctions programs. We followed up on March 6 to
provide a comprehensive summary of U.S. and UN efforts on
Iran (refs B-D).


2. (SBU) Kirov told us that although no ties to ref A
entities have yet been uncovered in the Bulgarian banking
sector, the FIA had taken several new steps to address its
increased monitoring and reporting obligations, especially in
regard to UN resolutions on North Korea and Iran. Since
early February 2007, the FIA has been meeting with small
groups of banking compliance officers to provide updated
guidance and to address concerns and questions of the
thirty-five Bulgarian banks. Dr. Kirov stated that because
correspondence between the FIA and banks were usually in
written form, he viewed the meetings as a perfect opportunity
to build closer relationships and cooperation with each
bank's compliance office, thereby allowing for closer
scrutiny of U.S. or UN designated entities and organizations.
In addition, Dr. Kirov continues to promote the U.S.
Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) website to the compliance officers and has requested
that they utilize all sanctions program lists, especially
regarding Iran, to report suspicious transactions to the FIA.
Post views this as a very positive sign for USG-GOB
cooperation on Iran and will continue to build our close
working relationship with the FIA.
BEYRLE