The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the names of seven individuals and nine entities whose property and interests in property have been unblocked pursuant to Executive Order 12978, "Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions with Significant Narcotics Traffickers," effective August 3, 2011.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated of Muhammad Hamsho, pursuant to Executive Orders 13573 and 13572, for providing services in support of, and for acting for or on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and President Asad’s brother Mahir al-Asad. Hamsho International Group, a Syrian holding company, was also designated for being controlled by Muhammad Hamsho. As a result, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in commercial or financial transactions with the designees and any assets they may hold subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. OFAC has also updated its Specially Designated Nationals list to include these designations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated two key al-Shabaab figures, Omar Hammami and Hassan Mahat Omar pursuant to Executive Order 13536, which targets for sanctions individuals and entities engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia. As a result, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with today’s designees and any assets they have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. OFAC has also updated its Specially Designated Nationals list to include these designations. The Federal Register notice of these designations (FR Pub 08/05/11) are available here and here.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a Cuba Travel Advisory pursuant to misstatements in the media suggesting that U.S. foreign policy, as implemented by OFAC, now allows for virtually unrestricted group travel to Cuba by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. OFAC states that although it amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations in January 2011 to expand licensing of travel to Cuba for certain specific purposes, the amended regulations still contain significant travel restrictions. Civil and criminal penalties may result from a violation of the Regulations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its Specially Designated Nationals list to add six individuals in Libya, Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism.” The Federal Register publication of these designations (FR Pub 08/03/11) is available here.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective July 9, 2011, which amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to add certain controls on exports and reexports of U.S.-origin dual-use items to a new nation, the Republic of South Sudan, which has voted to become a separate nation from Sudan1.
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated one of the four major branches of Syria’s security forces, the Syrian Political Security Directorate, for engaging in the commission of human rights abuses in Syria, as well as Iran’s national police for providing support to the Syrian regime, pursuant to Executive Orders 13572 and 13573. OFAC has also designated Major General Jamil Hassan of Syria pursuant to EO 13573. As a result, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with the designees and any assets they may have subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. OFAC has also updated its Specially Designated Nationals list to include these designations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated its civil penalties and enforcement information to announce that General Reinsurance Corporation has remitted $59,130 to settle liability for apparent violations of the Iranian Transactions Regulations. The apparent violations consist of two reinsurance claim payments in July and August 2005 to the Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited for losses arising from vessel operations of the National Iranian Tanker Company. General Reinsurance voluntarily disclosed this matter to OFAC and the transactions do not constitute an egregious case.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective July 1, 2011, to add “the Libyan Sanctions Regulations” under new 31 CFR Part 570 to codify Executive Order 13566 of February 25, 2011, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Libya."