Day: December 22, 2017

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE IRAN DEAL?

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE IRAN DEAL?

The Carnegie Center released on 22nd December a podcast where the JCPOA agreement between the West and Iran now stands, given the Trump Administration stance on the deal.  The interviewer sat down with 2 experts from the Center and discussed the status of the Iran deal, including what President Trump may do next year, what is happening in Congress, and how US global partners are reacting to the uncertainty over the future of the deal.  Whilst the IAEA has certified that Iran is complying with the terms of the JCPOA, the Administration remains unhappy – though Congress recently opted not to back the President’s decision not to certify the agreement in October. Divisions between the US and its EU allies have become apparent. Trump has to make a decision in mid-January.

http://carnegieendowment.org/diplopod

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN GAS FIELDS: IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

The European Council on Foreign Relations published a briefing on 21st December about the possible impact and implications of natural gas from fields in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying that discoveries of gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean raised the prospect of stronger economic integration between states in the region, which would see enhanced relations and pave the way for greater stability there, but that gas deals won’t end conflict in the Middle East. The known gas fields are, in the zones controlled by Israel and Egypt – and on the edge of that belonging to Cyprus, though others may be discovered, and possible pipelines could run from terminals in either (or both) Israel or Egypt into Europe. The briefing underlines the complicated and sensitive relationships, rivalries and potential conflicts in the whole area.
Med gas fields
http://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/a_flammable_peace_why_gas_deals_wont_end_conflict_in_the_middle_east?utm_content=buffer6455d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

UK CRIMINAL ASSETS SEIZURES FALL 19%

The value of criminal asset seizures fell by 19% this year, despite a rise in the value of fraudulent activity. One expert has said that the fall in seizures was caused by law enforcement budget cuts.  Out-Law has issued an article saying that authorities such as the NCA, City of London Police and other local police forces often do not have the resources to move quickly enough to seize criminal assets. This means criminals have more time to move assets out of their reach, and victims are less likely to receive compensation.  It says that figures obtained by Pinsent Masons (the law firm behind Out-Law) show that the value of criminal assets seized in the UK in 2016/17 from to £206.7m in 2016/17, from £254.7m in 2015/16. Meanwhile according to KPMG’s fraud barometer, fraudulent activity in the UK was worth £1.1bn in 2016, its highest level since 2011.  Given that the UK faces an evaluation exercise with FATF next year, these figures do not bode well

https://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2017/december/law-enforcement-budget-cuts-behind-fall-in-criminal-asset-seizures-says-expert/

UK ADDS 4 TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS TO BANNED LIST, AND REMOVES ONE OTHER

In the UK, the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2017 [SI 2017/1325] amends the list of proscribed (banned) terrorist organisations – add 4 names and delisting one.  As a result, from 21st December the following are added to the list of proscribed organisations –

  • al-Ashtar Brigades (Saraya al-Ashtar) (The Wa’ad Allah Brigades) (Islamic Allah Brigades) (Imam al-Mahdi Brigades) (al-Haydariyah Brigades)
  • al-Mukhtar Brigades (Saraya al-Mukhtar)
  • Hasam (Harakat Sawa’d Misr) (Harakat Hasm) (Hasm)
  • Liwa al-Thawra.

And Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin is removed.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1325/contents/made

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations–2

EU AMENDS SOMALIA SANCTIONS TO ALLOW FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF

From 23rd December, EU Regulation 2017/2415/EU amends Regulation 356/2010 so that the restriction on the supply of financial funds etc does not apply to that required for the timely supply of humanitarian relief by the UN and other such agencies.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017R2415&from=EN

US DESIGNATES 52 PERSONS UNDER ITS MAGNITSKY LAW

The Nikkei Asia Review reported 21st December that the US had imposed sanctions on 13 “serious human rights abusers and corrupt actors”, under its so-called Magnitsky Law, including Myanmar general Maung Maung Soe, who oversaw the crackdown against the Rohingya Muslim minority.  It also targeted 39 other individuals and entities with sanctions that block their assets under US jurisdiction, bar most Americans from dealing with them and largely cut them off from the global financial system.  Others included Benjamin Bol Mel, who has served as an adviser to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and is suspected of getting preferential treatment in government contracts, former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, accused of human rights abuses and corruption, and Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler, accused of using his friendship with Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila to secure sweetheart mining deals, Slobodan Tesic, a Serbian arms dealer, and a top financial adviser to the president of South Sudan, Artem Chayka, the son of Russia’s prosecutor general, Sergey Kusiuk, former head of an elite police force in Ukraine, and former president of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/US-sanctions-Myanmar-general-others-for-abuses-corruption?src=ilaw

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/21/donald-trump-sanctions-dozens-foreign-individuals-/?src=ilaw

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20171221.aspx?src=ilaw