Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LONDON196
2008-01-22 15:52:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
FOLLOW-UP: BANK MELLI ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A
how-toVZCZCXRO7978 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHLO #0196 0221552 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 221552Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7075 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0782 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 2621 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3114 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 0169 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T LONDON 000196
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR, NEA
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN ETTC
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP: BANK MELLI ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A
TURKISH BANK TO CIRCUMVENT UNSCRS 1737 AND 1747
REF: SECSTATE 5584
Classified By: A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR SANDRA CLARK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
ACTION REQUEST Paragraph 2
S E C R E T LONDON 000196
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR, NEA
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN ETTC
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP: BANK MELLI ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A
TURKISH BANK TO CIRCUMVENT UNSCRS 1737 AND 1747
REF: SECSTATE 5584
Classified By: A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR SANDRA CLARK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
ACTION REQUEST Paragraph 2
1. (S/NF) HM Treasury appreciates the information contained
in reftel and promised to look into evidence of any Bank
Melli activity in London and possible measures the UK could
take to disrupt the Turkish transaction, according to Patrick
Guthrie, Head of Financial Sanctions Unit, HMT. However,
Guthrie said HMT lawyers did not believe that Bank Melli's
relationship with Bank Sepah rose to the status of "agency"
or "acting on behalf of" that would trigger automatic
sanctions per UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. Guthrie promised HMT
would look further into the resolutions' language and compare
it to UK legal interpretations of those relationships.
2. (S/NF) ACTION REQUEST: We would appreciate a legal
analysis of UNSCRs 1737 and 1747, specifically defining the
terms "agency", "acting on behalf of", "providing financial
support", and "facilitating transactions", which we can share
with UK lawyers.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN, T, EUR, NEA
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2018
TAGS: KNNP MNUC EFIN ETTC
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP: BANK MELLI ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A
TURKISH BANK TO CIRCUMVENT UNSCRS 1737 AND 1747
REF: SECSTATE 5584
Classified By: A/ECON MIN COUNSELOR SANDRA CLARK FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D
ACTION REQUEST Paragraph 2
1. (S/NF) HM Treasury appreciates the information contained
in reftel and promised to look into evidence of any Bank
Melli activity in London and possible measures the UK could
take to disrupt the Turkish transaction, according to Patrick
Guthrie, Head of Financial Sanctions Unit, HMT. However,
Guthrie said HMT lawyers did not believe that Bank Melli's
relationship with Bank Sepah rose to the status of "agency"
or "acting on behalf of" that would trigger automatic
sanctions per UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. Guthrie promised HMT
would look further into the resolutions' language and compare
it to UK legal interpretations of those relationships.
2. (S/NF) ACTION REQUEST: We would appreciate a legal
analysis of UNSCRs 1737 and 1747, specifically defining the
terms "agency", "acting on behalf of", "providing financial
support", and "facilitating transactions", which we can share
with UK lawyers.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle