Mohammad Safwat Raslan, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria and Chairman of the Commission on Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, has held a series of high‑level meetings in the French capital with representatives of European and international financial institutions. The talks focused on re‑establishing Syria’s links to the European banking system, strengthening bilateral cooperation, and expanding channels for financial engagement.
Restoring Banking Relations and Expanding Correspondent Networks
According to an official statement released Saturday on the Central Bank’s Telegram channel, Bank Al Khaliji France S.A. hosted a working session attended by representatives from First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the Banque de France, and Fransabank. Discussions centered on restoring banking relations, broadening the network of correspondent banks, facilitating trade finance, and improving international payment and transfer mechanisms.
The delegation also met with the Franco‑Syrian Business Council (CAFSY), and held separate consultations with France’s financial intelligence unit, Tracfin, as well as Natixis Bank, to explore prospects for deeper economic and banking cooperation.
The meetings further reviewed the ongoing work of Syria’s Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Commission to strengthen the national compliance framework and reinforce financial transparency. Officials emphasized that these reforms are intended to rebuild international confidence and support the gradual reintegration of Syrian banks into the global financial system.
Global Measures to Address Financial Crime Threats
Syria also took part in the plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), held in Paris under the presidency of the United Kingdom, marking the country’s first participation in more than fifteen years. The gathering brought together representatives from over 200 jurisdictions and international organizations to assess emerging threats to financial integrity and coordinate global efforts to curb illicit financial flows.
Member states agreed to adopt new measures to confront evolving financial crime risks, including the expanding use of virtual assets and the proliferation of transnational fraud networks.
Addressing the plenary, Governor Raslan reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to building a more transparent, resilient, and internationally compliant financial system. He stressed the government’s determination to translate regulatory reforms into effective practice, strengthen adherence to anti‑money‑laundering and counter‑terrorist‑financing standards, and elevate the performance of the Syrian banking sector to meet global benchmarks.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
