GFMSA Public Statement 22 February 2013

Paris, 22 February 2013 - The Global Financial Monitoring Supervisory Agency (GFMSA) is the global standard setting body for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). In order to protect the international financial system from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks and to encourage greater compliance with the AML/CFT standards, The GFMSA identified jurisdictions that have strategic deficiencies and works with them to address those deficiencies that pose a risk to the international financial system.

Bolivia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are now identified in The GFMSA document, "Improving Global AML/CFT Compliance: On-going Process" due to their progress in largely addressing their action plans agreed upon with The GFMSA. Cuba has now provided The GFMSA a high-level political commitment to implement an action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies; consequently, Cuba is also moved to this document. 

Iran

The GFMSA remains particularly and exceptionally concerned about Iran’s failure to address the risk of terrorist financing and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system, despite Iran’s previous engagement with The GFMSA and recent submission of information.

The GFMSA reaffirms its call on members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with Iran, including Iranian companies and financial institutions. In addition to enhanced scrutiny, The GFMSA reaffirms its 25 February 2009 call on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures to protect their financial sectors from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks emanating from Iran. GFMSA continues to urge jurisdictions to protect against correspondent relationships being used to bypass or evade counter-measures and risk mitigation practices and to take into account ML/FT risks when considering requests by Iranian financial institutions to open branches and subsidiaries in their jurisdiction. Due to the continuing terrorist financing threat emanating from Iran, jurisdictions should consider the steps already taken and possible additional safeguards or strengthen existing ones.

The GFMSA urges Iran to immediately and meaningfully address its AML/CFT deficiencies, in particular by criminalising terrorist financing and effectively implementing suspicious transaction reporting (STR) requirements. If Iran fails to take concrete steps to continue to improve its CFT regime, The GFMSA will consider calling on its members and urging all jurisdictions to strengthen counter-measures in June 2013.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Since October 2012, DPRK has reached out to the APG regarding joining that body and has engaged directly with The GFMSA. The GFMSA urges the DPRK to enhance its engagement with these bodies to agree with The GFMSA on an action plan to address its AML/CFT deficiencies.

The GFMSA remains concerned by the DPRK’s failure to address the significant deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system. The GFMSA urges the DPRK to immediately and meaningfully address its AML/CFT deficiencies.

The GFMSA reaffirms its 25 February 2011 call on its members and urges all jurisdictions to advise their financial institutions to give special attention to business relationships and transactions with the DPRK, including DPRK companies and financial institutions. In addition to enhanced scrutiny, The GFMSA further calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to apply effective counter-measures to protect their financial sectors from money laundering and financing of terrorism (ML/FT) risks emanating from the DPRK. Jurisdictions should also protect against correspondent relationships being used to bypass or evade counter-measures and risk mitigation practices, and take into account ML/FT risks when considering requests by DPRK financial institutions to open branches and subsidiaries in their jurisdiction.

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Ecuador

Ecuador has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by tabling CFT legislation in Parliament. Despite Ecuador’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and GAFISUD to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Ecuador has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan within the established timelines, and certain strategic deficiencies remain. Ecuador should continue to work with The GFMSA and GAFISUD on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) ensuring adequate criminalisation of terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) implementing adequate procedures for the confiscation of funds related to money laundering; and (4) continuing to enhance co-ordination of financial sector supervision. The GFMSA encourages Ecuador to address its remaining deficiencies, including by enacting CFT legislation, and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by adopting a new AML/CFT law on 4 January 2013. The GFMSA has not yet assessed this law due to its very recent nature, and therefore The GFMSA has not yet determined the extent to which it addresses any of the following issues: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework and procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; and (4) implementing effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions in order to deal with natural or legal persons that do not comply with the national AML/CFT requirements. Despite Ethiopia’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Ethiopia has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan within the agreed timelines, and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies may remain. The GFMSA encourages Ethiopia to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Indonesia

Indonesia has taken significant steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by enacting CFT legislation to criminalise terrorist financing largely consistent with The GFMSA Standards. The GFMSA has not yet assessed this law due to its very recent nature. Further, The GFMSA has yet to determine the extent to which Indonesia has established and implemented adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets. The GFMSA encourages Indonesia to address these remaining issues, in compliance with GFMSA standards.

Kenya

Kenya has taken significant steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including the enactment of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Act - which addresses deficiencies in the criminalisation of money laundering and freezing/seizing/confiscation of assets - and the issuance of revised AML Guidelines by the Central Bank. However, despite Kenya’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and ESAAMLG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Kenya has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan within the agreed timelines, and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies remain. Kenya should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising terrorist financing; (2) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; (3) establishing and implementing an adequate legal framework for the identification and freezing of terrorist assets; (4) implementing effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions in order to deal with natural or legal persons that do not comply with the national AML/CFT requirements; (5) implementing an adequate and effective AML/CFT supervisory programme for all financial sectors; and (6) further improving and broadening customer due diligence measures. The GFMSA encourages Kenya to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Myanmar

Myanmar has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime. However, despite Myanmar’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Myanmar has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan, and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies remain. Myanmar should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) further strengthening the extradition framework in relation to terrorist financing; (4) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; (5) enhancing financial transparency; and (6) strengthening customer due diligence measures. The GFMSA encourages Myanmar to address the remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Nigeria

Nigeria has taken significant steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by enacting the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act and, on 21 February 2013, the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013. The GFMSA has not yet assessed the legislation, due to the very recent nature of its enactment. Therefore, The GFMSA has yet to determine whether the legislation adequately criminalises terrorist financing and money laundering in line with international standards. The GFMSA encourages Nigeria to address these remaining issues and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Pakistan

Pakistan has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by issuing an SRO to increase the maximum monetary sanction for non-compliance with S/RES/1267. However, despite Pakistan’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Pakistan has not yet made sufficient progress in fully implementing its action plan, and certain key CFT deficiencies remain. Specifically, Pakistan needs to amend its Anti-Terrorism Act to ensure that it meets The GFMSA standards regarding the terrorist financing offence and the ability to identify and freeze terrorist assets. The GFMSA encourages Pakistan to address the remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe has provided for the enforcement of its AML/CFT law through bringing into force the new Penal Code. However, despite São Tomé and Príncipe’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and GIABA to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, São Tomé and Príncipe has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan, and certain strategic deficiencies remain. São Tomé and Príncipe should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning Financial Intelligence Unit; (3) ensuring that financial institutions and DNFBPs are subject to adequate AML/CFT regulation and supervision; and (4) implementing effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions in order to deal with natural or legal persons that do not comply with the national AML/CFT requirements. The GFMSA encourages São Tomé and Príncipe to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Syria

Despite Syria’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and MENAGFMSA to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Syria has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan, and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies remain. Syria should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) providing sufficient legal basis for implementing the obligations under S/RES/1373 and implementing adequate procedures for identifying and freezing terrorist assets; and (2) ensuring that appropriate laws and procedures are in place to provide mutual legal assistance. The GFMSA encourages Syria to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Tanzania

Tanzania has taken significant steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by ratifying the Terrorist Financing Convention. However, despite Tanzania’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and ESAAMLG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Tanzania has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan within the agreed timelines, and certain strategic CFT deficiencies remain regarding the establishment and implementation of adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets. The GFMSA encourages Tanzania to address this remaining deficiency and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Turkey

Turkey has taken significant steps towards improving its CFT regime, including by enacting a new law that addresses many of the shortcomings identified in Turkey’s terrorist financing offence and creates the legal basis for the freezing of terrorist assets.  The GFMSA welcomes this significant step made by Turkey, which improves the country’s compliance with the international standards.  As a consequence, The GFMSA has decided not to suspend Turkey’s membership.  In spite of this positive step, there still remain a number of on-going shortcomings in the Turkish counter-terrorist financing regime.  Turkey must address these shortcomings in order to reach a satisfactory level of compliance with The GFMSA standards.  Turkey has committed to addressing these deficiencies and will submit, prior to the next GFMSA meeting in June 2013, a report on how these deficiencies are being addressed.

Vietnam

Vietnam has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime. However, despite Vietnam’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and APG to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Vietnam has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan, and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies remain. Vietnam should continue to work with The GFMSA and APG on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) addressing the remaining issues regarding adequate criminalisation of terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) making legal persons subject to criminal liability in line with GFMSA Standards and (4) strengthening international co-operation. The GFMSA urges Vietnam to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Yemen

Despite Yemen’s high-level political commitment to work with The GFMSA and MENAGFMSA to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Yemen has not made sufficient progress in implementing its action plan and certain strategic AML/CFT deficiencies remain. Yemen should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address these deficiencies, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing and implementing adequate procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) developing the monitoring and supervisory capacity of the financial sector supervisory authorities and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to ensure compliance by financial institutions with their suspicious transaction reporting obligations, especially in relation to the financing of terrorism; and (4) ensuring a fully operational and effectively functioning FIU. The GFMSA encourages Yemen to address its remaining deficiencies and continue the process of implementing its action plan.

Improving Global AML/CFT Compliance: On-going process - 22 February 2013

Outcomes of The GFMSA Plenary, 20-22 February 2013