http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1822370.htm
US imposes sanctions on arms suppliers to Iran, Syria The United States has announced sanctions against 24 foreign entities, including Russian, Chinese and North Korean firms, for allegedly selling banned weapons to Iran and Syria. The move has drawn a sharp protest from Moscow. Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport is among the highest-profile firms hit by the measures, imposed under the 2005 Iran and Syria Non-Proliferation Act. Three Chinese state-run companies, two other Russian firms and a Russian individual, as well as entities from Iran, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia and Mexico have been hit by the sanctions, published yesterday in the US Federal Register. A State Department official says the measures took effect as of December 28. The Government did not specify exactly what sales or transfers to Iran or Syria had prompted the punitive steps. The sanctions law, which dates back to 1999 for Iran and 2005 for Syria, bars US Government dealings with companies, governments or individuals caught transferring missile technology, weapons of mass destruction of advanced conventional arms to the two countries. While the US measures are often largely symbolic, notably when they concern firms in countries such as North Korea, Iran and Syria, they can impact on the international dealings of some firms. Rosoboronexport spokesman Valery Kartavtsev says the sanctions are unfair. "The introduction of umpteen sanctions against us is a form of unfair competition targeting our company and all Russia," he said. Rosoboronexport was already hit with US sanctions in August for allegedly providing Iran with equipment that could be used in the development of weapons of mass destruction. Russian aircraft firm Sukhoi was also targeted by those measures, but the sanctions were lifted against the jet maker in November after angry protests from Moscow. Mr Kartavtsev has told Russian television his company has doubled its arms exports over the past five years, notably with sales to lucrative markets in Latin America. He says Rosoboronexport adheres strictly to international and Russian law and has not yet received any official notification of the sanctions. Vladimir Pekhtin, the Deputy Speaker of Russia's Lower House, the Duma, says the real reason for the sanctions is that "the American administration is simply afraid of competition from Russian companies". +++ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
