Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 15 / corr Trend I.Khalilova, N.Ismayilova /
FATF has presented to the Azerbaijani government five recommendations, said Rufat Aslanly, head of the working group for counteracting money laundry and financing terror, and chairman of the State Securities Committee.
"Four recommendations are linked with the legislation, they are of temporary character. Some legislative acts which were required to tackle them enacted into law on March 17, Aslanly underscored. One proposal envisages improving institutional processes."
The recommendations include criminalization and money laundry in accordance with the international conventions, criminalization and financing terror in accordance with international conventions, injecting some changes in the legislative acts, including the law on counteracting money laundry and financing terror. All these recommendations were adopted by the parliament and approved by the head of state. "So, we are sure there are no open questions."
In accordance with schedule, it is planned to discuss with FATF late this May processes taken place in Azerbaijan.
"We have held preliminary discussions, and are sure that the progress achieved will satisfy FATF, and we will receive positive reply from this international organization," Aslanly added.
Azerbaijan is a member of the CE and its activities for counteracting money laundry and financing terror are evaluate within CE export group Moneyval. Azerbaijan is a member-country which provides reports within Moneyval procedures and evaluates the situation in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan has passed three rounds of evaluation and under the last round Moneyval took a decision to cease the substantial monitoring on Azerbaijan in December 2009," Aslanly said.
FATF is an international organization, which coordinates, the activities of regional groups, including Moneyval. Based on decision of G-20 summit, FATF estimated all countries with regard to their implementation of recommendations. In this framework, Azerbaijan together with 86 countries was in a list of countries which were estimated more in detail.
"Azerbaijan has been under the monitoring of Moneyval for a definite period, whilst FATF plenary meeting in Abu-Dhabi in February decided not to include Azerbaijan in a list of countries for which they publish Public Statement, Aslanly informed. Nevertheless, we will continue our work with both international organizations [FATF and Moneyval]."
Within the framework of further procedures, presently several recommendations of FATF's 49 recommendations are under consideration and they might undergo some changes. This is a dynamic process and FATF is estimating the situation in different countries.
"The fourth round of evaluation has been sanctioned, and in accordance with the adopted schedule we expect the evaluation of Azerbaijan to come out in the first half of 2013," Aslanli said.