Cablegate: Demarche Delivered On Fatf Statement and Guidance On Iran

VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSI #2738 3091559
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051559Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8089
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS TBILISI 002738

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CARC, T AND ISN/CPI:MNEW
TREASURY FOR TFFC:LADAN ARCHIN

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN KNNP IR GG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON IRAN

REF: STATE 148605

1. On October 30, Embassy Econ Officer met with David Amaghlobeli,
vice president and acting president of the National Bank of Georgia
(Georgia's central bank) and familiarized him with the FATF
statement and guidelines on Iran transmitted reftel. Amaghlobeli
confirmed that the NBG and its financial unit, the Financial
Monitoring Service, have the responsibility in the Georgian
government to notify banks of conditions and risks for doing
business with Iran. Amaghlobeli said the current level of
transactions between Georgia and Iran is insignificant and normal
financial communications are not functional between the two
countries. He said that Georgia's Ministry of Finance has
encountered problems with transferring salaries to the employees of
Georgia's Embassy in Iran, due to restrictions on money transfers
that are already in place.

2. Nevertheless, given the interest Iran has shown in enhancing
economic relations with Georgia, Amaghlobeli committed to update all
commercial banks and financial institutions with the information and
guidelines delivered by the Embassy so that the banks can employ
enhanced scrutiny of transactions related to Iran or Iranian
entities. In order to ensure the government is fully aware of U.S.
concerns in this area, we are also providing the information to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

TEFFT

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