US Drops Sanctions Against Ukraine

News.ru ^ | April 12th, 2003

[struwwelpeter]

On April 10th the US announced the end of financial sanctions against the Ukraine, Ukrainian first vice- premier and minister of finances Nikolai Azarov stated in Washington. This was reported by Interfaks news agency by the first vice-premier's press secretary Vitalius Luk'yanenko.

A resolution by the US treasury secretary cancelling sanctions will become effective at their moment of publication in the Federal Register, which is expected during the next two weeks.

Azarov, who heads the Ukrainian delegation at the semiannual meeting of the World bank and IMF, held meetings with leaders of the US treasury and its financial crimes section (financial intelligence). He described to them the Ukraine's progress in combating money laundering, and practical steps carried out in the creation of an efficient system of financial monitoring.

He also stated that the government has set as its goal to have itself removed before the end of 2003 from the blacklist of countries that do not support the international fight against money laundering. "We also intend to join the Edmonton group soon," reported the first vice-premier.

As he stated, at an meeting on 14 February the international organization for combating money laundering (FATF - Financial Action Task Force) recommended sanctions against the Ukraine, which were introduced on 19 December 2002, be dropped. A majority of FATF participating countries have already carried out these recommendations.

At the same time, however, the Ukraine will remain on a separate blacklist until new legislation fighting money laudering is completed. The next revision of the blacklist is planned at the following plenary meeting of the FATF on 18-20 June.

The Ukraine is on the FATF blacklist as a country which does not facilitate the fight against money laundering. The FATF on 19 December 2002 recommended sanctions against the Ukraine because of its lack of cooperation against money laundering.

[struwwelpeter]

Ukraine ended up on a trade sanction list over a year ago due to their thriving black market of data, music, and videos, not to mention their so-called "green" stance on US poultry imports. The FATF sanctions were merely icing on the cake.

Kuchma guessed that he could get in good with Washington by sending a token force to Kuwait, part of the "coaliton of the willing but don't say our name out loud." He tried to play it both ways: he didn't piss off Russia and the EU by committing them to Iraq, yet he pretending to helping the US. The ever diminishing number and mission of these "volunteers," however, failed to impress Washington. His batallion of 600 dropped to 480, and finally 422 stepped off the plane in Kuwait City.

So, this must be Kuchma's bone. Not a very big one, and Washington makes him wait until it gets "publication in the Federal Register, which is expected during the next two weeks."

Can't fool a Texan.

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[Calpernia]

I think they still need a regime change. I am President for Funding in a Rivne Orphanage. You would be sickened if you realized how little of the monies that are raised here in the states, ie., Children of Chornobyl, etc. even make it to the state sponsored orphanages. NEVER mind the regional leveled ones. I raise money for a regional leveled orphanage. The situation for these people is really sad.

[nanomid]

The orphanage problem is bad.

I've heard comment from one of our missionaries there, and
my wife and I have sent small gifts to a few children.

Small steps are better than none.

[struwwelpeter]

I lived quite awhile in Donetsk and a village called Antratsit, in Lugansk district.

In the village a group of baptisty built a "nondenominational" church and periodically send clothes and toys to their converts. I'm not saying that this isn't helpful to someone, but I myself bought American-style (and sized) clothing in the "sekond hend" shop there. The locals, hungry and poor as they may be, seem to have other preferences.

[struwwelpeter]

I knew an American guy in Donetsk who was a silent partner in a billiard hall. He married a gal from there, and at the Kiev embassy the people gave him such a hard time that he took off his prosthetic leg and banged it on the table, shouting "I lost this f**king leg in Vietnam and now you're telling me who I can marry!!??"

He ended up having to go to Warsaw to get the paperwork done.

[danmar]

...what a delightfull picture. I must confess it is extremely hard to chose among such a delight full view, but the back of the very left standing is just, ...shall we say "mahvelous".
The general question is...how can one be a "homo" when you are surrounded by such a beauty?!

[struwwelpeter]

They may be easy on the eyes, but extremely hard on the liver.

[danmar]

Paisano, why do you torture me like this...I do not remember doing anything nasty to you lately.........OTOH looking at the picture makes me... "who loves you baby?"...grrrrrrrrrrrrr