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Message of the Chairman

The launch of the new CTRF website (or FIPU: Financial Intelligence Processing Unit) represents undoubtedly an advance in the field of information and communication for the liable persons (DNFBP’s, Designated non-Financial Businesses and Professions), our partners either nationals or foreigners and the public in general offering in this manner a space for exchange and communication. It represents a modern and interactive tool that popularizes all the achievements of the FIPU through a simplified and methodological architecture. While introducing the CTRF (FIPU), the website also allows CTRF activities to be known in the field of Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT). Other improvements are expected as the commitments and motivations of the CTRF staff are strong in order to implement its objectives according to guidelines set by public authorities, the modernization program of the financial sector and with regard to recommendations defined at the international level. It is worth reminding that the CTRF (or FIPU) is an independent administration created at the Ministry of Finance. It has been created by the Executive Decree of April 7th 2002 modified and completed by Executive Decree of September 6th 2008. It is the Law n°05-01 that clearly stated the mandate of the CTRF within the field of AML/CFT. Those attributions consist in processing the intelligence gathered through the STR’s transmitted by the liable personnel, confidential reports from Tax and customs and the bank commission. The CTRF is also able to exchange intelligence with other foreign counterpart FIU’s with similar competences within the framework of reciprocity as defined in conventions previously established between states. In order to accomplish properly the missions assigned to the CTRF, this latter is structured into a council, a general secretary and four services. Given its mission of an intelligence structure and considering its mode of gathering intelligence that is exclusively done through written correspondence, information within the CTRF should circulate very rapidly if not in real time between services in charge of the job. It is indeed the duty of the CTRF to be reactive in order to be able to take the necessary conservative measures towards proven cases of money laundering or financing of terrorism. In addition to the support in the field of office automation and the formation of a collection of documents (laws, conventions and Security Council resolutions, press and internet articles…etc.), the FIPU developed a computer application to manage files of STR’s (known as COLIMAT) that meets the needs of investigators and analysts in the search and follow-up of files under processing. Finally, at the international level, Algeria will chair, under the chairmanship of the CTRF chairman, the rotating presidency of the MENAFATF during the year 2011.

Headlines:

14th Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force Plenary Meeting
- Algiers, 28 to 30 November 2011-

  • Algeria has held from the 28 to 30 November 2011 MENAFAT Plenary Meeting that was chaired by Algeria this year. The opening ceremony was chaired by his Excellency the Minister of Finance on the 28 November 2011 in presence of several guests representing MENAFATF member states as well as countries and international and regional organizations as observers.
  • That Meeting is ascribed within the framework of efforts aiming at consolidation of international standards in matter of fighting Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

    • On the margin of the Plenary Meeting, meetings of MENAFATF specialized groups and commissions were held in particular:
    • The Third Meeting of subcommittee related to Financial Intelligence Units Forum of MENAFATF member states as well as the Fourth Meeting of MENAFATF Financial Intelligence Forum
    • The Seventeenth Mutual Evaluation Working Group (MEWG) Meeting as well as the Thirteenth Technical Assistance and Typologies Working Group (TATWG) Meeting.

  • Created in 2004 during a ministerial meeting held on 30 November 2004 at Manama (BAHREIN) by governments of fourteen countries, the MENAFATF is a FATF type regional group operating in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is also an associate member of the Financial Action Task Force (or GAFI).
  • Algeria is a founding member of the MENAFATF and participates actively in the different works of the group.
  • The MENAFATF is represented, in addition to Executive Secretariat, by all Arab states: Algeria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania and Yemen. Other foreign delegations have an observer status in particular the Financial Action Task Force, the USA, France, Great Britain, Spain, Palestine, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units, the International Monetary Fund, the Arab Monetary Fund, the World Bank, UNODC, World Customs Organization, the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (AGP) and the Eur Asia Group against Money laundering and (EAG).
  • The current Chairman, for the year 2011 is the Chairman of the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (or CTRF) of the Algerian Ministry of Finance. The vice president is the Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdulmohsin Alkhalaf Vice Governor for technical affairs of the Saudi Monetary Agency. The present Executive Secretary is appointed for four-year term and is Adel Hamad Al Qulish from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Secretariat has its siege in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

FATF: Closing of the 14th Plenary Meeting with the adoption of several decisions.

Algiers- The 14th MENAFATF Plenary Meeting ended on Wednesday with the adoption of several decisions by member states including the work plan for 2012 and admission of the United Nations as an observer member within the MENAFATF.

The admission of the United Nations institution as an observer member within the MENAFATF “Will enhance the cooperation with the United Nations bodies and organs and enable it to participate in MENAFATF activities, particularly the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Monitoring Team established by the SC/RES/1267 (1999) concerning Al-Qaida and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and Entities and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED)”, the final press release of the meeting.

Participants also adopted a series of recommendations including the continuation of coordination with technical aid providers in order to develop systems against Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism and implement “a training program on methodological analysis during the first quarter of 2012”. In addition to the FATF training program for 2012-2014, participants approved during that international meeting reports related to the follow up for the mutual evaluation processes of Lebanon, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, noting “The reports revealed the progress made by such countries in developing their AML/CFT regimes according to the plan established for that purpose in their MERs adopted between 2006 and 2009.

Chaired by Algeria, the meeting adopted a series of recommendations including the continuation of revision of international standards and international cooperation in addition to “strengthening the fight against drug trafficking and money laundering” the same source indicated.

FATF has been created in 2004 during a ministerial meeting in Manama (Bahrain) and include several Arab countries. That regional group includes several observers in particular the FATF, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the International Customs Organization, the United States of America, France, Great Britain as well many Anti Money Laundering Groups in the world. Saudi Arabia will chair the MENAFATF Group during the year 2012.

the 13th plenary meeting of MENAFATF

while the 14th plenary meeting was held from 26 to 30 November 2011 in Algiers, the 13th MENAFATF plenary meeting was held in the Regency Hotel, Kuwait, State of Kuwait, from 3 to 5 May 2011. The meeting was chaired by the Algerian Republic, represented by Mr. Abdenour Hibouche, President of Cellule de Traitement du Renseignement Financier (CTRF) who inaugurated the plenary meeting – which was hosted by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the National Committee for AML and CFT – with Mr. Riyadh Al Hajri, First Attorney-General, Public Prosecution, State of Kuwait and Mr. Luis Urrutia, FATF President.

A large number of AML/CFT experts participated in the Plenary meeting, representing MENAFATF member countries (Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, and Yemen), in addition to observer countries and organizations (United Kingdom, USA, Spain, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Gulf Cooperation Council, FATF, Egmont Group and Arab Monetary Fund).


  • 1) Mutual Evaluation Reports: The 13th Plenary adopted the mutual evaluation reports of AML/CFT regimes of: - The Sultanate of Oman (conducted jointly with the FATF) following an onsite visit to the Sultanate during the period from 17 to 29 July 2010. The report discussed all aspects of the AML/CFT regime and the level of compliance of the Sultanate of Oman with the international standards in this regard and the extent of the regime effectiveness. The report will be discussed once again in the FATF plenary meeting that will be held in June 2011 since the GCC is a member of the FATF. - The State of Kuwait (conducted by the IMF) following an onsite visit to the State of Kuwait during the period from 17 October to 1st of November 2010. The report discussed all aspects of the AML/CFT regime and the level of compliance of the State of Kuwait with the international standards in this regard and the extent of the regime effectiveness. The report will be discussed once again in the FATF plenary meeting that will be held in June 2011 since the GCC is member of the FATF.

  • 2) Follow-up reports: Within the framework of the follow up process for the mutual evaluation processes, the 13th Plenary meeting has adopted 6 follow-up reports for the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Yemen, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Arab Republic of Syria; such reports showed the progress made by those countries in developing their AML/CFT regimes according to the plan set up for that purpose in their MERs adopted between 2006 and 2009.

  • 3) Working Groups: The Plenary adopted the report of the Chair of the Mutual Evaluation Working Group (MEWG), which included decisions and recommendations the MEWG has reached in its meeting held in the State of Kuwait on the 1st of May 2011, on the margin of the 13th Plenary meeting in relation to: Adopting the amended MEWG mandate. Following up the ICRG process. Adopting the timeline of ME process. Adopting timeline of ME follow-up process for the countries that have been already evaluated. Following up on the latest developments in the process review of the international standards and the international cooperation review process. Moreover, the Plenary adopted the report of the Chair of the Technical Assistance and Typologies Working Group (TATWG), which included decisions and recommendations the TATWG has reached in its meeting held on 1st May 2011 on the margin of the 13th MENAFATF Plenary in relation to: Following up the developments of the typologies project on “Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Money Laundering”. MENAFATF training plan for the years 2012 – 2014. Following up the status of organizing “the seminar on prosecution authorities and judiciaries” and the Regional Conference entitled “Cross-Border Cash Transportation: Challenges, Detection, and Combating”. Proceeding in coordinating with the TA donors to provide some member countries with their needs’ in terms of TA to improve their AML/CFT regimes.

  • 4)4) 3rd MENAFATF Financial Intelligence Units Forum The 3rd MENAFATF FIUs forum was held on Monday 2 May 2011; the most important issues are summarized below: - Encouraging and following-up the applications of FIUs to join the Egmont Group. - Exchanging the experience through a presentation of Best Practices made by 4 FIUs on the “role of the FIU in analyzing STRs and setting policy to evaluate ML/TF risks”. - The mechanisms proposed by the sub-committee to build and promote the capacities of FIUs. - Establishing mechanisms of cooperation with other Working Groups within the MENAFATF. The 4th MENAFATF FIU forum will be held on the margin of the 14th plenary meeting in the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in November 2011.

  • 5) Other Issues: Adopting the 6th annual report 2010, Closing Account 2010 and External Auditor Report. Adopting the MENAFATF 2012 budget.

  • 6) 14th Plenary Meeting: Algeria held, under the chairmanship of CTRF chairman,the 14th MENAFATF plenary meeting from 26 to 30 November 2011 in Algiers.

The FIU'S in the world

  • Activity of the Chairman

    On the occasion of 14th MENAFATF Plenary Meeting that was held in Algiers from the 26 to the 30 November 2011, the Chairman of the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTRF) has signed five memorandums of understanding with his MENAFAFT counterparts members, that are as follows:

    • BAHREIN
    • TUNISIA
    • MOROCCO
    • SUDAN
    • YEMEN

    Mr. Abdenour HIBOUCHE, chairman of the FIPU tookes part in meetings rewrite regulations of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part, in the offices of the Ministry of Justice, in activities of the commission of rewording the law against Money Laundering and Fight against Terrorist Financing.

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a meeting of the Contact Group for the fight against terrorism.

    Mr. Abdenour Hibouche, Chairman of The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit, took part in activities of the Contact Group, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions n°1970 and 1973.

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a meeting with his Excellency the Ministry of Finance.

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    trainings

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a seminary organized by the General Directorate of Customs in the city of Oran about “the status of the accredited dealers”.

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a training session organized by the General Directorate of Previsions and Policies.

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a training session intended to trainers about Anti Money Laundering and Fighting Terrorist Financing organized in Kuwait City by the Economic and Financial Center belonging to Arab Monetary Fund.

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a training session intended to trainers about Anti Money Laundering and Fighting Terrorist Financing organized in Dakar (Senegal) by Switzerland and the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in Western Africa (GIABA).

    The Financial Intelligence Processing Unit took part in a workshop about international judicial cooperation mechanisms in penal matters against terrorism that was organized in Algiers by Algeria in cooperation with the UNODC.

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