19 February 2003
Fact Sheet: U.S. Penalizes Indian Entity for Aiding Iraq's Weapons Program
(Penalties pursuant to 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Act) (590) The United States imposed penalties February 4 on the Indian entity, NEC Engineers Private, Ltd., and its president, Hans Raj Shiv, for "knowingly and materially contributing to Iraq's chemical/biological weapons (CBW) program," according to a Department of State fact sheet released February 19. The penalties have been imposed pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, the fact sheet says. This act mandates U.S. sanctions and encourages international sanctions against countries that use chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law. NEC Engineers Private, Ltd. is originally based in India, but also operates in the Middle East and Eurasia, the fact sheet states. According to the fact sheet, the United States will no longer procure goods or services from, nor import any products produced by the sanctioned entities. The fact sheet says, the U.S. hopes the sanctions "will support the steps India is taking" to prevent the proliferation of CBW materials and "encourage other governments to take similar steps." Following is the text of the February 19 State Department fact sheet: (begin fact sheet) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman February 19, 2003 FACT SHEET Sanctions Imposed on Indian Entities Pursuant to the Chemical/Biological Weapons Sanctions Law On February 4, 2003, penalties were imposed on the Indian entity, NEC Engineers Private, Ltd., and an Indian individual, Hans Raj Shiv, pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. NEC Engineers Private, Ltd. is an entity originally based in India, but also operating in the Middle East and Eurasia. Hans Raj Shiv, NEC Engineers Private, Ltd.'s president, was previously residing in India, but last believed to be in the Middle East. The penalties will remain in effect for at least 12 months. Penalties were previously imposed on Hans Raj Shiv on July 9, 2002, pursuant to the Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act of 1992. This determination will be published soon in the Federal Register. Penalties were imposed on these entities for knowingly and materially contributing to Iraq's chemical/biological weapons (CBW) program. The penalties imposed on NEC Engineers Private, Ltd. and Hans Raj Shiv pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 are as follows: -- The U.S. Government shall not procure, or enter into any contract for the procurement of, any goods or services from the sanctioned entities and their successors; and -- The importation into the United States of products produced by the sanctioned entities and their successors shall be prohibited. The Indian government was informed through diplomatic channels of our recent sanctions decision; we are not in a position to discuss the details of our contacts on this issue. These penalties are specific to the named entities, and do not extend to India or the Indian government. Indeed, we see these steps as consistent with the Indian government's ongoing efforts to halt Indian entities from engaging in illicit activities with WMD and missile programs in the Middle East and elsewhere. The Indian government has been conducting its own investigation into the activities of NEC and affiliated companies, has taken steps to try to prevent further proliferant exports, and has arrested two principals of the company. Unfortunately, NEC and Shiv have shifted operations to other locations. We hope our actions will support the steps India is taking, and will encourage other governments to take similar steps. (end fact sheet) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
