Tweet
Ecuador protests inclusion on money laundering list
QUITO, Feb 20 — Ecuador yesterday protested its “perverse” inclusion on a list of nations accused of failing to comply with standards against money-laundering and terrorism financing.
The Financial Action Task Force, an international organisation comprising governments and regional groups, named Ecuador this week along with Iran, Angola, North Korea and Ethiopia in a list of nations posing risks to the global financial system.
“We completely reject this perverse insinuation,” Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a news conference.
Patino said Ecuador had received international praise for measures to regulate its financial system, and rich nations who are judging poorer countries on their record should first put their own house in order.
“We honestly do not think the nations of the North have the moral authority to put us on that list. Let’s see in the future who should be on that list,” he said. “Where are the proceeds of narco-trafficking laundered? Not in Ecuador’s little banks.”
Without going into more details, the Paris-based task force said on Thursday that Ecuador had not “constructively engaged” with it and had not committed to global standards on fighting money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism standards.”
Patino said President Rafael Correa’s leftist government had declined to fill in a questionnaire it was sent on grounds of national dignity. “We do not take orders from them.” — Reuters
__________________________________________________ ___________
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61J2H220100220
.
QUITO, Feb 20 — Ecuador yesterday protested its “perverse” inclusion on a list of nations accused of failing to comply with standards against money-laundering and terrorism financing.
The Financial Action Task Force, an international organisation comprising governments and regional groups, named Ecuador this week along with Iran, Angola, North Korea and Ethiopia in a list of nations posing risks to the global financial system.
“We completely reject this perverse insinuation,” Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a news conference.
Patino said Ecuador had received international praise for measures to regulate its financial system, and rich nations who are judging poorer countries on their record should first put their own house in order.
“We honestly do not think the nations of the North have the moral authority to put us on that list. Let’s see in the future who should be on that list,” he said. “Where are the proceeds of narco-trafficking laundered? Not in Ecuador’s little banks.”
Without going into more details, the Paris-based task force said on Thursday that Ecuador had not “constructively engaged” with it and had not committed to global standards on fighting money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism standards.”
Patino said President Rafael Correa’s leftist government had declined to fill in a questionnaire it was sent on grounds of national dignity. “We do not take orders from them.” — Reuters
__________________________________________________ ___________
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61J2H220100220
.
Commentaire