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October 31, 2003
The United States announced Friday
that it has contributed $70,000 to the Eastern and Southern African
Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG). The contribution is to be
used to support the operations of the organization's secretariat as
ESAAMLG continues its work to build up comprehensive anti-money
laundering regimes capable of thwarting terrorist
financing.
The announcement was made Friday when Charles
Lengalenga, the organisation's executive secretary, called on U.S.
Ambassador Robert V. Royall at the American Embassy in Dar es
Salaam.
In a letter to ESAAMLG, Acting Assistant Secretary
of State Deborah McCarthy hailed the work of the Dar es Salaam based
group. "A robust international effort to combat terrorist financing
and money laundering is vital in the ongoing struggle against
terrorism and transnational crime, and the United States makes this
contribution with the belief that ESAAMLG is a key partner in that
effort," according to McCarthy.
In a statement to thank the
US government on the donation, Lengalenga conveyed the
organisation's appreciation for the timely donation, promising that
the funds will go toward the effort to assist member countries build
robust legislative and institutional frameworks to combat money
laundering and terrorist financing.
"I must mention that the
US government has been a living testimony of an all weather partner
in our region's bid to build crime free and enabling economies which
will in turn allow us prosper as a region," he said. "The US
government was present at the historic launch of the ESAAMLG at
Arusha on August 27 1999, and has always been available to help
nurture the Group as demonstrated further in this donation," he
added.
Lengalenga wished Ambassador Royall well as he leaves
Africa, asking him to always remember that he is leaving behind not
only professional colleagues in the fight against money laundering
and acts of terror, but also an institution that he helped build
that is ready to work with the rest of civilised mankind to make the
world a better place to live.
ESAAMLG was launched at a
meeting of ministers and high-level representatives in Arusha, in
August 1999 and held its first meeting in April 2000. The group
maintains its Secretariat in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Its member
countries are: Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The United States, United Kingdom,
Commonwealth Secretariat, United Nations, and World Bank serve as
cooperating nations and organizations. Executive Secretary Charles
Lengalenga of Zambia took office in February 2003.
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