Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE93583
2008-09-02 13:33:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

PREVENTING ESTABLISHMENT OF IRANIAN JOINT BANK IN

Tags:  ECON EFIN IR KNNP PARM PTER PINR ID 
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VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3583 2461336
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 021333Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 0000
S E C R E T STATE 093583 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2033
TAGS: ECON EFIN IR KNNP PARM PTER PINR ID
SUBJECT: PREVENTING ESTABLISHMENT OF IRANIAN JOINT BANK IN
INDONESIA

Classified By: Classified by: ISN C.S. Eliot Kang,
Acting, and EAP DAS Scot Marciel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T STATE 093583

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2033
TAGS: ECON EFIN IR KNNP PARM PTER PINR ID
SUBJECT: PREVENTING ESTABLISHMENT OF IRANIAN JOINT BANK IN
INDONESIA

Classified By: Classified by: ISN C.S. Eliot Kang,
Acting, and EAP DAS Scot Marciel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.

--------------
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (S) The United States has information that Iran is engaged
in efforts to establish a joint bank in Indonesia between
Iran's Bank Melli and an Indonesian bank. We believe one of
the Indonesian banks that Iran may have approached is
Indonesia's Penin Bank. We are concerned that a joint bank
involving Iran's Bank Melli, or any other Iranian bank, could
be used by the government of Iran to facilitate
proliferation-related payments in circumvention of UNSCRs
1737, 1747 and 1803. We want to alert Indonesia to these
activities and urge the GOI to investigate and prevent the
establishment of this joint bank.

--------------
OBJECTIVE/ACTION REQUEST
--------------


3. (S//REL INDONESIA) Washington requests Post deliver the
non-paper in paragraph 4 to appropriate host government
officials in the ministries of foreign affairs and finance
and the central bank. Post should pursue the following
objectives:

-- Inform Indonesia that the United States believes Iran is
attempting to establish a joint bank in Indonesia between
Iran's Bank Melli and an Indonesian bank, possibly Penin
Bank.

-- Warn Indonesia that a joint bank involving Iran's Bank
Melli, or any other Iranian bank, could be used by the
government of Iran to facilitate proliferation-related
payments in circumvention of UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803.

-- Urge Indonesia to investigate and prevent the
establishment of this joint bank.

--------------
NONPAPER FOR INDONESIA
--------------


4. (SECRET//REL INDONESIA)

-- We would like to raise serious concerns regarding Iranian
financial activities in your jurisdiction.

-- The United States believes Iran is engaged in efforts to
establish a joint bank in Indonesia between Iran's Bank Melli
and an Indonesian bank. We believe one of the Indonesian
banks that Iran may have approached is Indonesia's Penin Bank.

-- We are concerned that a joint bank involving Iran's Bank
Melli, or any other Iranian bank, could be used by the
government of Iran to facilitate proliferation-related
payments in circumvention of UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803. We
urge you to investigate these activities and prevent the
establishment of this joint bank.

-- As you know, UNSCR 1803 was adopted on March 4, 2008, and
calls on all member states to exercise vigilance over the
financial activities of banks in their territories with all
banks domiciled in Iran and their branches and subsidiaries
abroad, particularly Bank Melli and Bank Saderat.

-- Bank Melli was also designated for financial asset freeze
by the United States under Executive Order 13382 for its
provision of banking services in support of U.S.- and
UN-designated entities, including Bank Sepah, which is also
designated under E.O. 13382 and UNSCR 1747. Bank Melli was
also designated by the European Union for financial asset
freeze on June 23, 2008.

-- In addition, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has
issued three statements of concern over the past year
regarding the risks to the international financial system
posed by Iran's lack of anti-money laundering and combating
terrorist financing (AML/CFT) controls.

-- We look forward to working with you on this and other
related security and counterproliferation matters.

--------------
REPORTING DEADLINE
--------------


5. (U) Post should report results by close of business
within seven days of receipt of cable. Please slug replies
for ISN, T, Treasury, NEA/IR, and EAP. Please include SIPDIS
in all replies.

--------------
POINT OF CONTACT
--------------


6. (U) Washington points of contact for follow-up
information are Michelle New, ISN/CPI, (202) 647-0186,
newml@state.sgov.gov and Joy Yamamoto, EAP/MTS, (202)
647-2543, yamamotojo@state.gov.


7. (U) Department thanks Post for its assistance.
RICE