Assaf said "the existing mandate (authorization) of FATF include continuing focus on three main activities: enacting laws and standards for combating money laundering and terrorism financing; verification of the countries' commitment to those rules and standards, and identification of the sources and risks of money laundering and terrorism financing, where the FATF exercises its work through coordination and close cooperation with member states and with other international organizations, especially the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and the G-20. The Kingdom contributes effectively in the activity of the FATF meetings and through its representatives in international organizations and institutions. Although the money-laundering offenses and other economic crimes perpetrators are eagerly searching for ways and channels to provide safe haven to hide the consequences of their crimes, the national and international efforts in the detection of these methods receive the maximum priority. The Government of Saudi Arabia, under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz will continue its leading role in taking measures that might combat such crimes and to cooperate with the international community in this regard, particularly of those crimes that are often associated with the financing of terrorism and the promotion of drug use," he added.
