DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE

UNCLAS TUNIS 001442 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS),ISN/CPI (NEW), EEB/ESC/TFS (BONDY) TREASURY FOR TFFC (ARCHIN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN KTFN TS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON IRAN ¶1. On October 30, 2007, reftel points were transmitted to the Americas Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Tunisian Financial Analysis Commission (Tunisia's FIU) and the Ministry of Finance. Any reactions, comments, or response received from the GOT will be reported septel. ¶2. In recent meetings with Central Bank officials and several commercial banks, EEB/ESC/TFS Director Steve Bondy highlighted the potential risks of doing business with Iran. Central Bank officials noted that Tunisia has limited financial and business ties to Iran. The DG of one private bank told Bondy that the bank has stopped any and all business with Iran, indicating that there is a growing understanding in Tunisia of the risks surrounding Iranian transactions. GODEC