Bank of Albania brief gov't on money launder fight

"Bank of Albania has established a working group with a special programme regarding examination of all financial activity, making constant verification on second-level banks to evidence clients included in terrorists' black lists provided by US Treasury Department," ATA News Agency in Tirana quoted Cani as saying.

According to Cani, second-level banks have declared lack of any banking account of individuals included in terrorism lists.

"Meanwhile, a bank reported to Finance Ministry on November 2001 that Saudi-born citizen Jasim Kadi, included in terrorism list, disposed of an account in that bank as owner or co-owner of several companies and it also said that it had undertaken freezing process on relevant accounts,", Cani said.

Cani added that information had been provided that the above mentioned individual was co-owner of two other companies, which had opened accounts in two other banks.

"This information was followed by controls on Central Bank's side, with results sent to Albanian Finance Ministry. Meanwhile Banks have been urged for more responsible and efficient cooperation," Cani said.