LITHUANIA PLANS TO IMPLEMENT FATF GUIDANCE ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000784 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR; NEA; ISN; T E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA PLANS TO IMPLEMENT FATF GUIDANCE ON IRAN REF: SECSTATE 149648 Classified By: Ambassador Cloud for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On October 29 we met with Donatas Ziugzda, Head of the MFA's Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Division to discuss reftel. Ziugzda promised to consider the information and discuss it with the head of the Threat Analysis, Crisis Management and International Operations Division, Gintaras Stonys. In addition, he said that the GOL would inform Lithuanian banks to exercise greater vigilance with any transactions that involve Iranian entities. Also, Ziugzda noted that the GOL has a political obligation to follow FATF guidelines. Although the GOL is not a member of FATF, it does follow its recommendations when drafting legal guidance. CLOUD