The Question of Russia's Entry Into the FATF Has Been Practically Solved

The question of Russia's entry into the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) has been practically solved. This was stated by acting chairman of the Russian committee on financial monitoring (CFM) Viktor Zubkov at his meeting with reporters in Novosibirsk.

On Monday, representatives of the FATF mission arrived in Novosibirsk. They include the mission's legal expert Theodore Greenberg (USA), financial expert Ricardo Sansonetti (Switzerland), law enforcement experts Dirk Bos (the Netherlands) and Michael Laubert (Liechtenstein).

The FATF representatives will have meetings with law enforcers and with the leadership of the Main Department of the Central Bank of Russia on Siberia. They will also visit a number of credit and non-credit organisations, commercial banks and insurance companies and will familiarise themselves with the activity of professional participants in the securities market and leasing companies of Novosibirsk.

In June 2003, a decision will be finally taken on Russia's full and equal membership in this organisation. So far, it has only a status of an observer there.