WikiLeaks cable: Non-papers delivered regarding UNSCR 1803 and future bank

March 27, 2008
Non-papers delivered regarding UNSCR 1803 and future bank

date:2008-03-27T02:15:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:08WELLINGTON112
destination:VZCZCXRO5592 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHWL #0112
0870215 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 270215Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5162 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNSTF/TERRORISM FINANCE PRE NOTIFICATION COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY
CANBERRA 5150 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0124 RUEATRS/DEPT OF
TREASURY WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
classification:CONFIDENTIAL
reference:08SECSTATE29096
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000112

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CPI, T, EUR, EAP/ANP, NEA, STATE PASS TO
TREASURY
E.O. 1295...
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000112

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISN/CPI, T, EUR, EAP/ANP, NEA, STATE PASS TO
TREASURY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018
TAGS: ECON, EFIN, ETRD, KNNP, PREL, PGOV, MNUC, IR, NZ
SUBJECT: NON-PAPERS DELIVERED REGARDING UNSCR 1803 AND FUTURE BANK
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 29096
B. B) SECSTATE 27642

Classified By: ADCM Margaret McKean for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Per Ref A, Non-Paper regarding Iranian Banks' deceptive financial practices was delivered by Econoff to New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) Middle East Division with responsibility for sanctions issues regarding Iran and to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the NewZealand Police responsible for monitoring suspicious financial transactions. MFAT Iran desk officer James Munro indicated he would disseminate information contained in Ref A to both relevant government agencies and financial institutions. He indicated that many of the major banks in New Zealand have already begun to search financial transactions in order meet compliance with the UNSCR sanctions. He went on to indicate that the Iranian Embassy had complained to MFAT that ANZ Bank, which handles the Embassy local accounts, wanted to drop them as a customer. In researching trade and financial flows, bilateral trade between New Zealand and Iran amounts to only 0.4 percent of all exports amounting to NZ$112 million. Exports are primarily agriculture and meat products. As far as technology transfer, New Zealand exports some seismic equipment to monitor earth quakes but little other technology and certainly no technology related to nuclear power.

2. (SBU) Ref B Non-Paper regarding the designation of Future Bank under E.O. 13382 was also delivered to MFAT and FIU officials. While there was no immediate reaction, Post was informed that GNZ authorities would disseminate the information and search financial transactions to ascertain any suspicious activity. Post will follow-up with any information provided by GNZ resulting from provided information.

MCCORMICK