02 November 2001
Text: U.S. Applies Financial Restrictions to More Terrorist Groups
(Financial sanctions now apply to all 28 groups, Boucher says) (630)
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has applied stricter financial
sanctions to 22 foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), expanding
action taken by President Bush after the September 11th terrorist
attacks on the United States, State Department spokesman Richard
Boucher says.
The action to expand the heavy financial restrictions to all 28 FTOs
currently on the State Department list brings the groups under uniform
standards, Boucher said November 2 at his daily briefing. The action
further strengthens U.S. efforts to deprive terrorist groups of
financial assets and funding to carry out terrorist actions, he said.
On September 23, President Bush issued an executive order (E.O.)
placing six groups, led by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist group,
under stricter financial restrictions. The six groups included in the
executive order were al-Qaida, Abu Sayyaf, the Armed Islamic Group,
the Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan.
"Although the United States Government has already blocked any assets
in this country directly linked to these groups, designation under
E.O. 13224 provides the authority to act against individuals and
organizations that associate with the named terrorist groups," Boucher
said in a statement November 2.
In addition to blocking assets, the executive order can close down
U.S. branches of foreign banks that do not comply with U.S. requests
related to the 28 terrorist groups, according to the presidential
executive order.
The 28 FTO designations were originally announced by the State
Department in a separate report October 5.
Following is a text of Boucher's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 2, 2001
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
Designation of 22 Foreign Terrorist Organizations under Executive
Order 13224
To further the campaign against global terrorism, the Secretary of
State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Attorney General, this morning designated 22 Foreign Terrorist
Organizations (FTOs) under Executive Order 13224, which the President
signed on September 23 to facilitate the United States' efforts to
stop the flow of money to terrorist groups. The other six FTOs were
added to E.O. 13224 on the original annex to the E.O. on September 23.
Although the United States Government has already blocked any assets
in this country directly linked to these groups, designation under
E.O. 13224 provides the authority to act against individuals and
organizations that associate with the named terrorist groups.
The President has made clear that the United States is engaged in a
war against the scourge of terrorism. It is an unfortunate fact that
al-Qaida is not the only terrorist organization. All 28 terrorist
groups designated by the Secretary as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
(FTO) maintain networks around the world, and use these networks to
facilitate deliberate acts of violence against innocent persons to
further their nefarious designs. Although the current focus of the
campaign is the elimination of the al-Qaida terrorist network, we will
not rest until every terrorist group has been removed as a threat to
the United States, our citizens, our interests, and our friends and
allies.
As the President has stated, this campaign will be a long one. We are
taking a methodical approach to this and all aspects of the campaign
to ensure maximum impact on the terrorists. This round of Executive
Order designations is by no means the last. The list of affected
organizations and individuals is a living document. We will continue
to expand it as we identify and confirm additional entities that
provide financial and other support to terrorists.
(end text)
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