US embassy cable - 04ROME659

UNCLAS ROME 000659 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFC - GLASS/SALOOM 
IO/PHO, L/EB 
TREASURY FOR ZARATE, ROSS AND WALLWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN, PREL, IZ, IT, UNSC 
SUBJECT: IRAQI ASSETS: ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERING RAFIDAIN 
BANK ASSETS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 36435 
 
     B. ROME 611 
     C. ROME 385 
     D. ROME 227 
 
1. (U) INFORMATION CONTAINED IN REF A WAS DELIVERED TO 
ROBERTO CICIANI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE ON MONEY-LAUNDERING 
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES, FINANCE MINISTRY, ON FEBRUARY 20.  HE 
INDICATED HE WOULD SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ITALY'S 
FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT, THE UFFICIO ITALIANO DEI CAMBI 
(UIC). 
 
2. (SBU) REF C INCLUDED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE GOI ON 
RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS.  THE GOI CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF 
RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS IN BANCA NAZIONALE DI LAVORO, UBAE ARAB 
ITALIAN BANK, AND UNICREDITO ITALIANO SPA.  AS REPORTED IN 
REF D, UNICREDITO ITALIANO TRANSFERRED RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS 
OF EURO 2,234.93 AND USD 662.34 TO THE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR 
IRAQ ON DECEMBER 18.  THE GOI DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION 
REGARDING RAFIDAIN BANK ASSETS HELD BY BANCA INTESA MILANO. 
 
3. (SBU) FINANCE MINISTER TREMONTI AND FINANCE SECRETARY 
GENERAL SINISCALCO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR ON FEBRUARY 17 (REF B) 
THAT FINANCE AND UIC ARE PRESSING BANKS TO RELEASE AND 
TRANSFER ASSETS AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. 
SEMBLER 
 

 
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 2004ROME00659 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED