Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUENOSAIRES1572
2008-11-18 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
POST FOLLOW-UP ON ARGENTINE SUPPORT FOR OCTOBER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #1572 3231526 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181526Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2489 INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001572
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, INL
TREASURY FOR TFFS, OFAC, FINCEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2018
TAGS: KTFN EFIN PTER PREL PARM MNUC KNNP AR
SUBJECT: POST FOLLOW-UP ON ARGENTINE SUPPORT FOR OCTOBER
2008 FATF STATEMENTS ON IRAN
REF: A. STATE 115523
B. BUENOS AIRES 1543
C. BUENOS AIRES 1571
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne For Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001572
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, INL
TREASURY FOR TFFS, OFAC, FINCEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2018
TAGS: KTFN EFIN PTER PREL PARM MNUC KNNP AR
SUBJECT: POST FOLLOW-UP ON ARGENTINE SUPPORT FOR OCTOBER
2008 FATF STATEMENTS ON IRAN
REF: A. STATE 115523
B. BUENOS AIRES 1543
C. BUENOS AIRES 1571
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne For Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) Following on Post's November 7 delivery of Ref A
demarche to Alejandro Strega, the GoA's National Coordinator
for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance (Ref
B),EconOff delivered same message on November 14 to Zenon
Biagosch, Vice Superintendent of Financial Institutions at
the Argentine Central Bank (BCRA). Biagosch said he had
spoken with Strega about the FATF statements emanating from
the mid-October Rio plenary meeting, and assured EconOff that
the BCRA planned to issue a circular instructing all
financial institutions operating in Argentina to implement
the actions recommended in FATF press releases from October
16, 17, and 20. The BCRA's circular is called a
"Communication B," which is not quite equal to the issuance
of a BCRA norm (which is done via a "Communication A"),but
is equally binding on the institutions. (The BCRA issued a
similar Communication B in April 2008 requiring financial
institutions to comply with the FATF recommendations
regarding Iran and other countries issued during the October
2007 and February 2008 FATF plenary meetings.)
2. (C) Biagosch said the BCRA was already drafting the
Communication B and would issue it immediately upon receipt
of an official request from Alejandro Strega's office.
Strega confirmed to Econoff November 17 that he is preparing
the official letter from the GoA to the BCRA, which will
request that the BCRA inform financial entities that they are
obligated to adhere to the FATF recommendations as issued in
the FATF Chairman's summary of October 15-17 plenary.
3. (C) As reported Ref C, the Ambassador also delivered Ref A
demarche to Justice Minister Anibal Fernandez. The
Ambassador emphasized the need to act on the FATF
recommendations and briefed the Minister on EMBASSY
discussions with the National Coordinator's Office (which
reports to Minister Fernandez) and the BCRA. The Minister
indicated his support for taking the appropriate preventative
measures. (Comment: Given that the BCRA is the appropriate
entity to take action on this issue, Post will monitor the
results of the BCRA's issuance of the new circular later this
week and will hold off pursuing additional meetings with the
Foreign Affairs and Economy Ministrers or BCRA President
unless they prove necessary.)
WAYNE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, NEA, INR, EEB, S/CT, INL
TREASURY FOR TFFS, OFAC, FINCEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2018
TAGS: KTFN EFIN PTER PREL PARM MNUC KNNP AR
SUBJECT: POST FOLLOW-UP ON ARGENTINE SUPPORT FOR OCTOBER
2008 FATF STATEMENTS ON IRAN
REF: A. STATE 115523
B. BUENOS AIRES 1543
C. BUENOS AIRES 1571
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne For Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) Following on Post's November 7 delivery of Ref A
demarche to Alejandro Strega, the GoA's National Coordinator
for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance (Ref
B),EconOff delivered same message on November 14 to Zenon
Biagosch, Vice Superintendent of Financial Institutions at
the Argentine Central Bank (BCRA). Biagosch said he had
spoken with Strega about the FATF statements emanating from
the mid-October Rio plenary meeting, and assured EconOff that
the BCRA planned to issue a circular instructing all
financial institutions operating in Argentina to implement
the actions recommended in FATF press releases from October
16, 17, and 20. The BCRA's circular is called a
"Communication B," which is not quite equal to the issuance
of a BCRA norm (which is done via a "Communication A"),but
is equally binding on the institutions. (The BCRA issued a
similar Communication B in April 2008 requiring financial
institutions to comply with the FATF recommendations
regarding Iran and other countries issued during the October
2007 and February 2008 FATF plenary meetings.)
2. (C) Biagosch said the BCRA was already drafting the
Communication B and would issue it immediately upon receipt
of an official request from Alejandro Strega's office.
Strega confirmed to Econoff November 17 that he is preparing
the official letter from the GoA to the BCRA, which will
request that the BCRA inform financial entities that they are
obligated to adhere to the FATF recommendations as issued in
the FATF Chairman's summary of October 15-17 plenary.
3. (C) As reported Ref C, the Ambassador also delivered Ref A
demarche to Justice Minister Anibal Fernandez. The
Ambassador emphasized the need to act on the FATF
recommendations and briefed the Minister on EMBASSY
discussions with the National Coordinator's Office (which
reports to Minister Fernandez) and the BCRA. The Minister
indicated his support for taking the appropriate preventative
measures. (Comment: Given that the BCRA is the appropriate
entity to take action on this issue, Post will monitor the
results of the BCRA's issuance of the new circular later this
week and will hold off pursuing additional meetings with the
Foreign Affairs and Economy Ministrers or BCRA President
unless they prove necessary.)
WAYNE