Cablegate: Nicaragua Receptive to U.S. Cash Courier

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #2567 3462035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122035Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1788
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MANAGUA 002567

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, EEB, WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, AND USOAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER ASEC NU
SUBJECT: NICARAGUA RECEPTIVE TO U.S. CASH COURIER
INITIATIVE PROPOSAL FOR OAS/CICTE

REF: SECSTATE 161166

(U) On December 11, Econoff delivered reftel demarche on the
U.S. cash couriers initiative to Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) Deputy Director for North American Affairs Rene
Morales, MFA Legal Advisor Aracely Rodriguez, and
Superintendency Of Banks Anti-Money Laundering Director
Heynar Martinez. Morales and Rodriguez replied that while
they felt Nicaragua would be in a position to support such an
initiative, they would have to send the information to Vice
Minister Manuel Coronel Kautz for his final decision. VM
Coronel serves as Nicaragua's National Point of Contact for
OAS/CICTE. Martinez welcomed the initiative as an important
one for the hemisphere. He stated that while Nicaragua lacks
a Financial Intelligence Unit, the new Penal Code does
address the crime of terrorism financing and defines money
laundering in terms that meet international standards.
Therefore, he felt there exists the necessary political will
in Nicaragua to take on this issue. Supporting the
initiative should be in line with existing national policy.
TRIVELLI

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