The State Department designated Malik Ishaq (aka Mohammed Ishaq and Malik Mohammed Ishaq) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The designation provides the ability to block funds transfers to Ishaq without prior notice.
The Greek term as European Union (EU) president paves the way for progress in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), in light of the country’s support for the trade pact, said State Department Assistant Secretary for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, speaking in Athens on Feb. 3. “One of the key engines for that kind of growth, and the jobs that we need on both sides of the Atlantic is the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership that we’re negotiating, the TTIP between the United States and the EU,” said Nuland. “We’re very grateful for Greece’s support for it; it really is the engine of our economic future together.” The Greek presidency expires six months following Jan. 1.
The State Department announced the designation of Lashkar i Jhangvi as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Determined after consultation with the Justice and Treasury Departments, the designation includes a prohibition against knowingly providing, attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources or engaging in transactions with the organization. The designation also freezes all property and interests of the organization in the U.S. or in the control of U.S. citizens.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name and address changes on Feb. 3:
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) is soliciting membership applications from defense industry experts, along with defense trade and labor association personnel. DTAG is designed to provide the State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs a mechanism to consult with private sector defense exporters and specialists on U.S. laws, policies, and regulations for munitions exports. DTAG advises State on methods of reducing obstacles to non-threatening exports, while preserving national security interests. DTAG addresses the following subject matters:
The State Department designated Ziyad al-Nakhalah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The designation provides the ability to block funds transfers to al-Nakhalah without prior notice.
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls systems will undergo maintenance on Jan. 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The DTrade system will be unavailable to accept submissions during this time period. EFS, TRS, ELLIE and MARY will be unavailable, as will the www.pmddtc.state.gov website.
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls issued the following name and address changes on Jan. 29:
The State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council will hold a closed door meeting on Feb. 11-12 that will involve discussion on trade secrets and confidential, proprietary commercial information. The agenda will include a global threat overview and matters related to the protection of U.S. business information overseas.
The State Department issued a notice concerning the Jan. 20 implementation of sanctions relief outlined in the Joint Plan of Action, the deal struck between P5+1 countries and Iran to scale back Iranian nuclear enrichment activities. The relief targets Iranian exports of petrochemical products, Iran’s purchase and sale of gold and precious metals, the provision of goods and services to Iran’s automotive sector, and the licensing of safety-of-flight inspections and repairs for Iranian civil aviation, along with the establishment of channels to permit humanitarian goods import. The relief also eases restrictions on Iranian export of crude oil. U.S. citizens and foreign entities owned or controlled by U.S. citizens continue to be generally prohibited from conducting transactions with Iran, unless licensed to do so by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC provided guidelines for the sanctions relief on Jan. 20 (see 14012113). The relief measures expire on July 20. The P5+1 countries include the U.S., Russia, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany.