Belarus Currency
Belarus (10/04)
In 2000, Belarus managed to unify its currency exchange rates, tightened its monetary policy, and partially liberalized the foreign currency market. These developments led to the conclusion of a staff-monitored program in cooperation with the IMF, addressing, among other topics, price and wage liberalization, a widening of privatization, fiscal reform, the adoption of international accounting standards in the banking sector, and the repeal of several egregious laws and decrees to improve the investment climate. The program was conducted between April and September 2001, with relatively disappointing results. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Western-style boarding kennels are not available. Dogwalkers and dogsitters are easy to find. Most apartment dwellers are able to manage with pets quite well. The park system in Minsk is extensive and pet friendly. Leash and muzzle laws are in effect for large dogs in crowded areas. Most dogs are well trained and disciplined. Firearms and AmmunitionLast Updated: 11/28/2003 11:39 AM The Chief of Missions approval must be obtained before any firearms or ammunition may be brought into Belarus by U.S. Government personnel. Also, importing firearms and ammunition without prior approval of the host government in the form of a diplomatic note is strictly prohibited. Employees should consult with the European Regional Bureau (EUR/EX) before shipping fir ... [Read More]
Belarus
Lengthy pretrial detention periods were common. At year's end, for example, the following persons remained in detention: Mikhail Leonov, director general of the MTZ tractor factory had been in pretrial detention since his arrest in early January on corruption charges; artist Ales Pushkin had been in detention since he was arrested in Minsk in July for attempting to stage a performance on Republic Day, the date authorities mark the liberation of Minsk from German Nazi occupation; entrepreneur Oksana Novikova remained in detention after having been arrested on October 17 for passing out anti-Lukashenko leaflets in Minsk's Oktyabrskaya Square; and 61-year-old industrialist and recent presidential candidate Leonid Kalugin had been in pretrial detention since November 2001, when he was charged with abuse of power, illegal currency practices, and illegal business activity ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Global Group Urges Focus on Cash Smuggling to Combat Terrorism
Countries should ensure that effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions are available to deal with persons who make false declaration(s) or disclosure(s). In cases where the currency or bearer negotiable instruments are related to terrorist financing or money laundering, countries should also adopt measures, including legislative ones consistent with Recommendation 3 and Special Recommendation III, which would enable the confiscation of such currency or instruments. ... [Read More]
Remarks Following the OSCE Ministerial Council
I want to applaud the noble work of OSCE institutions that deal directly with democratic development. This work goes to the essence of the OSCE. When leaders of member states are unwilling to uphold their OSCE commitments, member states and institutions must speak out. Otherwise we cheapen the currency of our organization. The organization for democratic institutions and human rights has continued to do a superb job. It supports free elections, it fights trafficking in human being; it presses for religious freedom. Its work reflects the finest tradition of the Helsinki process. The representative for free media has kept the spotlight on infringements of the press and works hard to correct them. Our new High Commissioner on National Minorities will continue the important work of his predecessors on some of the most difficult and inflammatory issues of our time. We must support him as he defuses potential conflict and ensures that we all respect our commitments. ... [Read More]
International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports
FINANCIAL CRIMES AND MONEY LAUNDERINGMONEY LAUNDERINGOVERVIEWIn 1992, the major trends affecting money laundering policy were: (1) further sophistication of money laundering practices; (2) greater investment of drug and other illicit proceeds into established businesses, both to conceal money movements and to capitalize on illicit profits; (3) the internationalization of money laundering networks whose operations involve an ever larger number of countries and territories, regardless of their importance as financial centers or as drug producing or transit countries; and (4) the intensified involvement of the Sicilian Mafia and other criminal organizations in Europe, Asia and the Western Hemisphere who comingle proceeds from many crimes to confound investigators, and are now acting as brokers for funds unrelated to their own trafficking activities. These trends have made it more difficult to differentiate between drug-related money laundering and other forms of illegal money m ... [Read More]
M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Since 1997, the Superintendency of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (SBIF) has implemented controls to prevent and investigate money laundering including stricter customer identification requirements and the reporting of currency transactions and suspicious activity. These controls apply to all banks (commercial, investment, mortgage, private), savings and loan institutions, financial rental agencies, currency exchange houses, money remitters, money market funds, capitalization companies, and frontier foreign currency dealers. The institutions are also required to report currency transactions of more than U.S. $10,000 (or local currency equivalent), and suspicious transactions to a National Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) created in 1998 under the SBIF. The UNIF analyzes the suspicious activity reports and refers those deemed proper for further investigation to the appropriate enforcement authority, which could be the National Guard, Technical Judicial Police, or the Office of ... [Read More]
Major Money Laundering Countries
International Transportation of Currency: By law or regulation, the jurisdiction, in cooperation with banks, controls or monitors the flow of currency and monetary instruments crossing its borders. Of critical weight here are the presence or absence of wire transfer regulations and use of reports completed by each person transiting the jurisdiction and reports of monetary instrument transmitters. ... Record Large Transactions: By law or regulation, banks are required to maintain records of large transactions in currency or other monetary instruments. ... [Read More]
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
(1) As DEA also points out, "In some cases, the agent (business) may represent a variety of remittance companies. When this is the case, the agent may suggest dividing the deposit, sending a portion with each of the represented businesses (companies). Thus, detection is increasingly challenging."Federal authorities at the conference also highlighted the recent growth of smaller independent remitters (beyond the more established Western Union and MoneyGram systems), particularly of those providing service to and from Mexico. DEA reported that although these remitters provide important legitimate services to migrant worker populations, the location of these businesses, "do not necessarily parallel the employment centers for these laborers. Rather, it appears that the agent locations are primarily located in states without regulations governing the money services industry." ... [Read More]
Belarus
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Traveler's checks are not widely accepted in Belarus. Most hotels accept either American Express or Visa credit cards. In addition, one hotel in Minsk, “The Planeta,” provides cash from Visa credit cards during business hours. Travelers face arrest if they attempt to buy items with currency other than Belarusian rubles. Authorized currency exchange centers are widely available throughout major cities. ATMs are also available for use. Travelers should be aware that there is a high incidence of credit card fraud in Belarus. If they choose to use credit cards, they should regularly check their account status to ensure its integrity. ... [Read More]
|