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United States ends sanctions against another Belarusian defense industry company

 

The United States has decided not to extend its sanctions against the Belarusian Optical Mechanical Association (BelOMO).

The Belarusian company is on a list of entities that are no longer subject to US sanctions, which was published by the US Department of State on May 29.

On May 23, 2011, the United States imposed its sanctions on BelOMO and BelTechExport under its Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. The sanctions were imposed because of "credible information indicating that they had transferred to or acquired from Iran, North Korea, or Syria equipment and technology listed on multilateral export control lists or otherwise having the potential to make a material contribution to weapons of mass destruction or cruise or ballistic missile systems."

The sanctions, which were to be effective for two years, meant that US government agencies were banned from buying any goods, services or technologies from the companies or providing any assistance to them.

It became known a week ago that the sanctions against Beltechexport had not been prolonged.

The US State Department has provided no explanations for its decision to remove BelTechExport and BelOMO from its blacklist.

Meanwhile, Belarusian defense industry companies Belzneshpramservis, TM Services Limited (TMS) and KB Radar are still subject to US restrictive measures. The sanctions against Belzneshpramservis were imposed in 2012 for allegedly supplying weapons to Syria. The US State Department blacklisted TM Services Limited and KB Radar this past February.

In 2007, the United Stated imposed a freeze on the assets of state petrochemical conglomerate Belnaftakhim and a ban on any business dealings with the conglomerate and its subsidiaries. // BelaPAN