Posted on 04/12/2003 8:20:09 PM PDT by 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.
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.
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.
He ended up having to go to Warsaw to get the paperwork done.
They may be easy on the eyes, but extremely hard on the liver.
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