OSCE Yerevan Office co-organizes meeting to combat money-laundering and financing of terrorism

YEREVAN, 27 June 2006 - Armenian authorities learned about modern tools in the fight against money-laundering and financing of terrorism today at a meeting co-organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Participants in the seminar, hosted by the Armenian Central Bank, discussed best practices of inter-agency co-operation dealing in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.

"Assisting Armenia in the fight against organized crime is a multi-year priority for our Office and the practical advice provided at this meeting contributes to that effort," said Jeannette Kloetzer, Economic and Environmental Officer at the OSCE Office.

Experts from the United Kingdom, the United States and Belgium presented practical examples of investigative methodology and co-ordination to about 60 representatives from the General Prosecutor's Office, the Financial Monitoring Centre of the Central Bank and the Armenian Police - the bodies responsible for combating money-laundering and the financing of terrorism in Armenia.

The seminar is part of long-term activities supported by the OSCE Office in Yerevan intended to help Armenian authorities in strengthening the rule of law, build their institutional capacity and enhance co-operation with international crime fighting organizations.