Belarus Real Estate
Authentication of Documents For Use Abroad
No authority designated: refer requests to the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office, 2400 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520. 202-647-5002 Authentication of Foreign Documents for Use in U.S.: In countries party to the Hague Legalization Convention, foreign documents are authenticated by the foreign competent authority listed in our separate information flyer on the Convention. See "Additional Information" below. In non-Hague countries, documents can be authenticated by a consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Effective June 1, 2002, the consular fee for authentication is $30.00 per seal. See Federal Register, ... [Read More]
Austria
The Austrian legal system protects secured interests in property, both movable and real. Mortgages are recognized, if they are registered in the land register and the underlying contracts are valid. The law recognizes mortgages, if they are registered in the land register and the underlying contracts are valid. The land register provides a reliable system for recording interests in property. For any real estate agreement to be effective, the agreement must be entered with the land register. This requires approval of the land transfer commission or the office of the provincial governor. Any interested party has access to the land register. ... [Read More]
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Iran's real estate market is widely used as an alternative remittance system. For example, real estate transactions take place in Iran, but no funds change hands there; rather, payment is made overseas. This typically is done because of the difficulty in transferring funds out of Iran and the weakness of Iran's currency, the rial. The real estate market, in at least one instance, has been used to launder narcotics-related funds. ... Macau's free port, offshore financial services, lack of foreign exchange controls, disaggregated law enforcement agencies, problematic (albeit improving) law and order situation, and nascent anticorruption efforts create an environment conducive to money laundering. Macau serves as a gateway to China, and can be used as a transit point to remit funds and criminal proceeds to and from China, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. Organized crime groups based in Macau are believed to launder their proceeds through joint ventures and real estate purchases in China, or through cross border cash transfers, front companies, real estate purchases, currency exchanges, and alternative remittance systems. Gaming and related services play a critical role in the Macau economy. They account for approximately 40 percent of GDP. Direct taxes from gambling accounted for 43 percent of government revenue in 1999. Organized crime groups are associated with the gambling industry through such activities as ... [Read More]
Europe and Central Asia
AlbaniaI. Summary Drug trafficking is a significant problem in Albania, which is a major transit country for heroin from Afghanistan and Turkey destined for markets throughout Europe. Organized crime groups use Albania as a transit point for drug and other types of smuggling due to the countrys strategic location, weak police and judicial systems, and porous borders. The most common illegal drugs are heroin, marijuana, and to a lesser extent, cocaine. Heroin is typically transported through the "Balkans Route" of Turkey-Bulgaria-Macedonia-Albania, and on to Italy, Greece and the Netherlands. Cocaine is smuggled from South America, via the United States, Italy, Spain, Greece or the Netherlands, and ... [Read More]
M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Irans real estate market is widely used as an alternative remittance system. For example, real estate transactions take place in Iran, but no funds change hands there; rather, payment is made overseas. This typically is done because of the difficulty in transferring funds out of Iran and the weakness of Irans currency, the rial. The real estate market, in at least one instance, has been used to launder narcotics-related funds. ... Member states shall ensure that the obligations laid down in this Directive are imposed on the following institutions: credit institutions (as defined previously); financial institutions (as defined previously); and on the following legal or natural persons acting in the exercise of their professional activities: auditors, external accountants and tax advisors; real estate agents notaries and other independent legal professionals, when they participate, whether: (a) by assisting in the planning or execution of transactions for their client concerning the (i) buying and selling of real property or business entities; (ii) managing of client money, securities or other assets; (iii) opening or management of bank, savings or securities accounts; (iv) organization of contributions necessary for the creation, operation or management of companies (v) creation, operation or management of trusts, companies or similar structures; (b) or by acting on behalf of and for their client in any financial ... [Read More]
Cyprus (07/05)
Services and tourism (76.2% of GDP): Trade, restaurants, and hotels 20.4%; transport 10.9%; finance, real estate, and business 23.8%; government, education, and health 16.1%; and community and other services 4.9%. ... Work force: Government-controlled area (2004), 333,100: agriculture and mining--5.3%; manufacturing and utilities--12.0%; construction--10.7%; trade, hotels, and restaurants--27.1%; transport--5.3%; finance, real estate, and business--11.9%; government, education, and health--18.4%; community and other services--9.3%. Turkish Cypriot-administered area (2003), 95,000: agriculture--14.5%; manufacturing and utilities--9.3%; construction--19.7%; trade, and tourism--11.2%; transport and communication--8.7%; finance--2.5%; business and personal services--15.3%; public services--18.8%. ... [Read More]
Tax FAQ - United States Mission to Germany
12. I am a German citizen who recently sold U.S. real estate and a 10% amount was withheld in the U.S. from the selling price. What do I need to do now? ... 12. I am a German citizen who recently sold U.S. real estate and a 10% amount was withheld in the U.S. from the selling price. What do I need to do now? ... [Read More]
USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, JUNE 9
MR. RUBIN: It's my understanding that they want the real estate, and that they are using violations of the Vienna Convention to improve their real estate holdings. That would seem to me to be a particularly pathetic excuse for engaging in a fundamental violation of the Vienna Convention. ... Although the Belarusian Foreign Ministry says the evacuation is to allow construction on water and sewage systems, the US government says the Belarusian government "is deliberately violating lease agreements and the requirements of the Vienna convention" in order to gain control of this real estate, Rubin said. He called the action "self destructive," "unnecessary, foolish and illegal provocation." ... [Read More]
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