The third High Level Coordination Commission (HLCC) was held at Da Afghanistan Bank conference hall on the 18th of February 2020. The meeting was chaired by his Excellency Mr. Wahidullah Nosher, first Deputy and Acting Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank.
The meeting commenced with recitation of the holy Quran, followed which Mr. Wahidullah Nosher delivered his opening remarks, thanking the members of the commission for their presence and reflecting on the importance of conducting HLCC meetings in steering efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing across the country.
He added that in order for Afghanistan to successfully undergo the upcoming FATF mutual evaluation, it is of utmost importance that an effective inter-agency coordination and cooperation mechanism is established among government entities as no single entity can manage to bring effectiveness in the application of the overall AML/CFT regime in the country. He illustrated that the relevant entities must coordinate efforts and work together to protect the financial and economic sectors and the general public against financial crimes, especially money laundering and terrorist financing.
Following Mr. Nosher, Mr. Salim Salah, the Director General of FinTRACA and chairman of the HLCC working committee, presented a short report on establishment of the HLCC working committee and its first meeting. As per the meeting agenda, the Director General of FinTRACA presented the reviewed NRA document to HLCC members. He emphasized upon the fact that the NRA document was subjected to thorough review and corrections were brought in the structure, quality, and consistency of the document. He then proceeded to presenting the national action plan, and the amended draft ToR of the HLCC which was prepared by the coordinator of HLCC.
The members of the commission engaged in discussions concerning the NRA and action plan and exchanged their views, before approving the NRA and action plan. The members also instructed the relevant bodies involved in national action plan to prepare their own road map and a separate action plan for their entity to implement their part of the national action plan. The proposed amendments in the terms of reference of HLCC were also approved by commission.
It is noteworthy to mention that the High Level Coordination Commission to fight ML and TF is established as per the legal provision set forth in article 33 of the AML-PC Law, and its members include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs, Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy Minister of Justice, Deputy of Supreme Court, Deputy of AGO, NDS deputies, and representative of the Office of National Security Council.
Since its establishment, three HLCC meetings have been conducted thus far, and as per the annual plan of the HLCC coordinator, three more meetings are scheduled to be held during the fiscal year 2020 on a quarterly basis. May there arise need for conducting the commission, extra ordinary meetings shall also be conducted.
