Banks of Cyprus ready to support sanctions against Belarusian officials
Bankers of Cyprus and Greece will support the EU's decision on sanctions against Belarus by their means. The head of the Center for International Business of the Piraeus Bank (Greece-Cyprus) Simeon Simeou has said this during the meeting with journalists from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Moldova.
Simeon Simeou: “I don't know exactly what is going to happen with regard to the sanctions against Belarus. However, as you know, if a decision is taken at the EU level, you may object to it but when it is taken you should follow it. Thus, if a correspondent decision is taken, Cyprus will follow it. Because they [sanctions - ERB] will be used in all the EU countries”.
And all this despite the fact that rendering bank services is one of the main sources of profit in this country. 17 registered banks, 25 branches and 2 affiliates of foreign banks, as well as 359 corporate credit establishments work in Cyprus alone. All of them, says Simeon Simeou, will close their doors in front of the Belarusian officials including in the EU's "black list".
However, he has confessed there are no "frozen" Belarusian accounts now in their bank. Simeon Simeou has clarified that if anyone sends money to a Belarusian official who is in the "black list", he will not receive it - the money will be covered by the sanctions.
Simeon Simeou: “I don't know exactly what is going to happen with regard to the sanctions against Belarus. However, as you know, if a decision is taken at the EU level, you may object to it but when it is taken you should follow it. Thus, if a correspondent decision is taken, Cyprus will follow it. Because they [sanctions - ERB] will be used in all the EU countries”.
And all this despite the fact that rendering bank services is one of the main sources of profit in this country. 17 registered banks, 25 branches and 2 affiliates of foreign banks, as well as 359 corporate credit establishments work in Cyprus alone. All of them, says Simeon Simeou, will close their doors in front of the Belarusian officials including in the EU's "black list".
However, he has confessed there are no "frozen" Belarusian accounts now in their bank. Simeon Simeou has clarified that if anyone sends money to a Belarusian official who is in the "black list", he will not receive it - the money will be covered by the sanctions.
