U.S. stands ready to support initiatives to combat financial crimes -  Alexis Haftvani

ArmInfo.Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia Arsen Ayvazyan  today received a delegation headed by the Mrs. Alexis Haftvani, Director of the U.S. Embassy Yerevan's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).

According to the press service of the Investigative Committee,  Ayvazyan noted that high-level cooperation between the Investigative  Committee of the Republic of Armenia and the US Embassy in Armenia  continues effectively, within the framework of which significant work  has been carried out towards developing the capabilities of the  Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia and improving  professional resources.

It is noted that another important step in this direction is the  launch of a training program aimed at developing skills in the  criminal legal fight against the crime of money laundering in  cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US  Department of Justice. The RA Investigative Committee presented the  need for US professional support in this field during previous  meetings with the representatives of the US Embassy.

The Deputy Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee emphasized that  as a method of money laundering, the mechanisms of converting  criminally acquired funds into cryptocurrencies or acquiring real  estate in other countries are being used more recently, the fight  against which implies broad international cooperation and continuous  development of capabilities. This cooperation stems from a memorandum  of cooperation signed this year between the Investigative Committee  of the Republic of Armenia and the US Federal Bureau of  Investigation.

Arsen Ayvazyan expressed confidence that the training courses  conducted by experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, based  on the rich American experience in combating financial crimes, will  help improve the efficiency and quality of the preliminary  investigation of criminal proceedings on money laundering.

Mrs.Haftvani, in turn, emphasized that the United States is ready to  support all initiatives to combat money laundering and other  financial crimes that the RA law enforcement agencies consider  necessary. She added that they can already discuss the needs and  directions for further new programs and initiatives in this area.

During the meeting, issues related to the training course starting in  Yerevan, cooperation with the Investigative Committee of the Republic  of Armenia and the US Embassy were discussed. The parties agreed to  intensify the dialogue in the near future, taking into account the  needs of the RA Investigative Committee, to discuss the details of  the planned new programs.