OSCE supports Georgia's fight against money-laundering

TBILISI, 25 November 2004 - International crime-fighting experts will work with Georgian officials to develop tougher measures to combat money-laundering at a two-day OSCE workshop in Tbilisi starting on Thursday.

"The illegal flow of money is a direct and serious threat to national and international security terrorism," said Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia. "All over the world, it is linked with organized crime and used to fund terrorism. The effects of money-laundering are bad for a country's business, development, government and the rule of law."

The National Workshop on Combating Money Laundering and Suppressing the Financing of Terrorism is organized by the OSCE Mission and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Georgian Government.

Representatives of the OSCE, UNODC, the World Bank and Interpol will share experiences with representatives of 14 Georgian governmental and financial agencies.

"It is essential that we co-operate and commit the necessary resources if we are to tackle this issue successfully," added Ambassador Reeve. "The OSCE and UNODC are happy to respond to the government's calls to strengthen Georgia's role in the fight. The recommendations from all the agencies taking part will reflect the value of this approach."

The National Bank of Georgia, the Georgian Financial Management Service, the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia and the Ministries of Interior and Justice will take part in the workshop.

Participants will consider practical ways to tighten Georgia's existing initiatives, examining areas such as effective analysis of financial data to identify incriminating evidence.

"This national workshop is one of a series in OSCE participating States which have committed themselves to take action," said Marc Baltes of the OCEEA. "Because of its reach and comprehensive approach to security, the OSCE is in a prime position to help co-ordinate international action."