Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELMOPAN131
2008-03-05 20:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

(C) BELIZE: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS ASSISTANCE

Tags:  PREL SNAR SOCI PINR ASEC BH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ4656
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBE #0131 0652016
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 052016Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1139
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0015
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 0022
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0165
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 0131
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000131 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CEN - R. BEAL, INL
EMBASSIES FOR LEGATT, DEA, REGIONAL AFFAIRS, USMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL SNAR SOCI PINR ASEC BH
SUBJECT: (C) BELIZE: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS ASSISTANCE
TRACKING MISSING FUNDS

REF: A. A) BELMOPAN 130 (NOTAL)

B. B) BELMOPAN 109 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ROBERT J. DIETER, REASONS 1.4(b
) AND (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000131

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CEN - R. BEAL, INL
EMBASSIES FOR LEGATT, DEA, REGIONAL AFFAIRS, USMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL SNAR SOCI PINR ASEC BH
SUBJECT: (C) BELIZE: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS ASSISTANCE
TRACKING MISSING FUNDS

REF: A. A) BELMOPAN 130 (NOTAL)

B. B) BELMOPAN 109 (NOTAL)

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ROBERT J. DIETER, REASONS 1.4(b
) AND (d).


1. (C) Attorney General/Foreign Minister Elrington has
asked the Ambassador for USG assistance in tracking a
Venezuelan grant made just before the election and now the
subject of controversy over the amount provided (REF A).
Elrington requested any information we might be able to
provide on the actual amount of the loan, and, if it was more
than US$10 million, where any additional funds were
transferred to.


2. (C) In addition, Elrington has asked for USG assistance
in providing an expert assessment of what would be required
to perform a complete audit of government finances for the
past decade, in order to identify misappropriated assets.


3. (C) COMMENT: We believe the GOB is serious about
seeking to identify stolen government money and recover
stolen public assets. Such action, including prosecution in
serious cases, would go a long way to breaking the culture of
impunity that allowed corruption to flourish in recent years.
This request for law enforcement assistance presents an
excellent opportunity for the USG to develop early, positive
relations with the GOB in the area of financial intelligence
including GOB's Financial Intelligence Unit. If we can
assist the new government with asset recovery and
prosecution, we will open the door to the type of broader
information sharing on money laundering and criminal
financial transactions that we have sought for some time. We
also believe that the recent assistance request from the
National Security Minister (REF B) is a useful one which the
USG should support. END COMMENT.
DIETER