Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK546
2007-07-03 14:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
EXEMPTIONS TO IRAN SANCTIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0025 OO RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0546 1841453 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031453Z JUL 07 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2190 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000546
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: KNNP ETTC EFIN UNSC PREL MNUC PARM IR
SUBJECT: EXEMPTIONS TO IRAN SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 90814
Classified By: Alternate Representative for
Special Political Affairs, Ambassador Jackie Sanders,
for Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000546
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: KNNP ETTC EFIN UNSC PREL MNUC PARM IR
SUBJECT: EXEMPTIONS TO IRAN SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 90814
Classified By: Alternate Representative for
Special Political Affairs, Ambassador Jackie Sanders,
for Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) The Iran Sanctions Committee met on June 29, at the
request of Italy, to discuss exemptions to the assets freeze.
In response to USUN REFTEL points, Italy agreed fully that
there should be no "business as usual" for sanctioned
individuals and entities (specifically Bank Sepah). That
said, Italy also stressed that assets freeze exemptions
contained in resolution 1737 (2006) should be used to protect
"innocent" third party companies which had traded or entered
into business deals with Iran prior to the sanctions. Italy
also argued that in an exemptions case involving the movement
of funds across borders, the Committee should place an
emphasis on receiving a notification from the State that
plans to disburse the funds because only the State where
"final payment is due" can verify that the funds are used in
accordance with the resolutions.
2. (C) South Africa, Russia, and the UK supported the U.S.
rationale behind our edits to the Bahrain letter (REFTEL),
but all three delegations also expressed understanding for
the "practical concerns" articulated by Italy. The UK
suggested a "common sense approach," saying that States
should seek to coordinate exemption notifications where
possible and noting that the Committee has limited ability to
stop or slow down exemption notifications submitted under
paragraph 15 of resolution 1737.
3. (C) The Belgian Chairman concluded the discussion by
stating that the Committee's paramount interest is to receive
the necessary information about the exemption. Belgium plans
to revise slightly the draft letter to Bahrain to reflect
Committee members' support for the U.S. edits while trying to
incorporate the UK's "common sense approach." USUN will send
the revised draft letter to IO/PSC as soon as it is received.
4. (C) COMMENT: After the meeting, the Italian delegates
approached USUN POLOFF to thank us for a constructive
discussion. Italy "got the message" about the need for all
relevant States to notify the Committee and appreciated our
point on the need to protect the rights of innocent third
parties. END COMMENT.
WOLFF
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: KNNP ETTC EFIN UNSC PREL MNUC PARM IR
SUBJECT: EXEMPTIONS TO IRAN SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 90814
Classified By: Alternate Representative for
Special Political Affairs, Ambassador Jackie Sanders,
for Reasons 1.4 (B and D).
1. (C) The Iran Sanctions Committee met on June 29, at the
request of Italy, to discuss exemptions to the assets freeze.
In response to USUN REFTEL points, Italy agreed fully that
there should be no "business as usual" for sanctioned
individuals and entities (specifically Bank Sepah). That
said, Italy also stressed that assets freeze exemptions
contained in resolution 1737 (2006) should be used to protect
"innocent" third party companies which had traded or entered
into business deals with Iran prior to the sanctions. Italy
also argued that in an exemptions case involving the movement
of funds across borders, the Committee should place an
emphasis on receiving a notification from the State that
plans to disburse the funds because only the State where
"final payment is due" can verify that the funds are used in
accordance with the resolutions.
2. (C) South Africa, Russia, and the UK supported the U.S.
rationale behind our edits to the Bahrain letter (REFTEL),
but all three delegations also expressed understanding for
the "practical concerns" articulated by Italy. The UK
suggested a "common sense approach," saying that States
should seek to coordinate exemption notifications where
possible and noting that the Committee has limited ability to
stop or slow down exemption notifications submitted under
paragraph 15 of resolution 1737.
3. (C) The Belgian Chairman concluded the discussion by
stating that the Committee's paramount interest is to receive
the necessary information about the exemption. Belgium plans
to revise slightly the draft letter to Bahrain to reflect
Committee members' support for the U.S. edits while trying to
incorporate the UK's "common sense approach." USUN will send
the revised draft letter to IO/PSC as soon as it is received.
4. (C) COMMENT: After the meeting, the Italian delegates
approached USUN POLOFF to thank us for a constructive
discussion. Italy "got the message" about the need for all
relevant States to notify the Committee and appreciated our
point on the need to protect the rights of innocent third
parties. END COMMENT.
WOLFF