President EO Blocks Property of Libyan Govt Leadership, Suspends Defense Export Licenses

February 28, 2011 by Marie Rapport|Top News

On February 25, 2011, President Obama issued an Executive Order, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, that takes steps with respect to the situation in Libya.

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(Obama has determined that the actions of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, his government, and close associates, including extreme measures against the people of Libya, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the U.S. The order declares a national emergency to deal with this threat.)

Blocks Property/Interests in Property of Government Leaders, Etc.

All property and interests in property that are in the U.S., that hereafter come within the U.S., or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any U.S. person, including any overseas branch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

1. the persons listed in the Annex¹ to this EO; and

2. any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:

to be a senior official of the Government of Libya;
to be a child of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi;
to be responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, or to have participated in, the commission of human rights abuses related to political repression in Libya;
to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of the activities described in subsection (b)(iii) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;
to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or
to be a spouse or dependent child of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.

Blocks Property/Interests in Property of Government of Libya

All property and interests in property that are in the U.S., that hereafter come within the U.S., or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any U.S. person, including any overseas branch, of the Government of Libya, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central Bank of Libya, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.

All Existing Licenses/Approvals for Export of Defense Articles Suspended

Additionally, the Secretary of State is suspending all existing licenses and other approvals for the export of defense articles and services to Libya.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/28/11 news, 11022701, for the UN Security Council approving an arms embargo, asset freeze on Libya.

See ITT's Online Archives or 02/24/11 news, 11022418, for BP summary of the President discussing responses to violence in Libya, and stating that Administration is looking at a full range of options to respond to the crisis.

See ITT's Online Archives or 02/23/11 news, 11022320, for BP summary of Congressional leaders calling for sanctions against Libya.)

¹The following individuals are listed in the Annex:

Ayesha QADHAFI [Lieutenant General in the Libyan Army, born circa 1976 or 1977]
Khamis QADHAFI [born 1980]
Muammar QADHAFI [Head of State of Libya, born 1942]
Mutassim QADHAFI [National Security Advisor and Lieutenant Colonel in the Libyan Army, born circa 1975]
Saif Al-Islam QADHAFI [born June 5, 1972]

EO available here

Letter to Congress available here.

Press release available here

FR Publication of EO 13566 (FR Pub 03/02/11) is available here.