Public statement on the results of the 12th EAG Plenary Meeting

12th EAG Plenary and Working Group meetings were held in Almaty (Kazakhstan) from May 31 untill June 3, 2010. The meeting was chaired by the EAG Chairman, aide to the President of Russia Mr. Oleg Markov. FATF President Mr. Paul Vlaanderen and MONEYVAL Chairman Mr. Vladimir Nechaev took part in the Plenary. Over 20 countries and international organizations involved in the international AML/CFT system were among the participants of the meeting.

EAG membership expansion 

Turkmenistan joined EAG as a member state. Serbia and Montenegro were granted observer status.
The inclusion of Turkmenistan in the EAG is an important step for developing the country’s national AML/CFT regime and proves the high level of political commitment of the state to eliminate deficiencies identified by the FATF.
The EAG will continue assisting Turkmenistan in enhancing its national AML/CFT system in compliance with the international standards.
The fact that Serbia and Montenegro joined the EAG as observers shows the growing authority of the Eurasian group in the European part of the region and is due to enhance cooperation with MONEYVAL. 

EAG Working Group activities 

The mandate of the new EAG Working Group on Assessment and Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks was approved (WGAR). The Working Group will be co-chaired by Belarus and Russia. The WGAR will be tasked with analyzing country risks and formulating EAG policy of their mitigation as well elaborating a risk assessment methodology and recommendations for risk management. It will also enhance dialogue with jurisdictions and international organizations on this issue.
The Working Group on Technical Assistance meeting was held in a new format. EAG donors and member states conducted a number of face-to-face meetings which resulted in the elaboration of a coordinated technical assistance plan for all EAG member countries.
International cooperation enhancement 
The Plenary meeting decided to request MENAFATF to obtain observer status.
EAG and MONEYVAL cooperation is also being enhanced: the two FSRBs conduct joint typologies research and are planning on having a joint seminar this autumn.
The Plenary approved of the decision to enhance cooperation with regional organizations including Commonwealth of Independent States (Executive Committee), Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Collective Security Treaty Organization and Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating the Illicit Drug Trafficking. The representatives of those organizations supported the EAG initiative on holding a joint conference on security of the Eurasian economic zone.
The EAG has requested the FATF to obtain associate membership status. Mr. Vlaanderen commented on the EAG’s significant progress in assisting its member states in creating national AML/CFT regimes and noted that obtaining associate membership by the EAG will allow its members to participate actively in the international AML/CFT system.
According to the words of the FATF President, the role of FSRBs has grown recently and the EAG increasingly fulfills its tasks in the region. Enhancing cooperation with the FSRBs is a relevant task for the FATF. It will be discussed in the framework of the upcoming FATF Plenary in June at the FATF/FSRBs Chairmen meeting. Mr. Vlaanderen also noted that thanks to the FSRBs the implementation of the international standards became possible not only in the FATF countries, but in more than 180 jurisdictions worldwide.
According to Mr. Vlaanderen, FATF/FSRBs evaluation procedure is one of the most efficient international tools, aimed at enhancing AML/CFT systems globally which leads to the improvement of investment climate of the states. "Non-compliance with the international standards costs money to the national economies", - believes the FATF President. 

Progress reports of EAG member states 

The Republic of Belarus 
Due to the failure of Belarus to present its progress report on time, the Plenary decided to postpone this question until the 13th EAG Plenary. 

The Republic of Tajikistan 
Tajikistan is implementing measures to establish a national AML/CFT regime. Given the fact that the system is not yet implemented, ML/TF risks remain in the country. Tajikistan is recommended to urgently implement all the necessary regulations and adopt a comprehensive AML/CFT law by September 2010 covering all aspects of the AML/CFT regime in accordance with the FATF Recommendations. 

EAG Mutual evaluations 

The Republic of Kazakhstan 
Due to the fact that the mutual evaluation procedures have been delayed by the Republic of Kazakhstan the EAG Plenary meeting has taken a decision to move the mutual evaluation to September 2010. 

The Republic of Uzbekistan 
The Plenary meeting discussed and approved the mutual evaluation report of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Significant progress has been noted in relation to the development of the national AML/CFT regime. However deficiencies remain in relation to the key FATF Recommendations. The decision has been made that Uzbekistan present its progress report to the 13th EAG Plenary meeting.