[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15130-15132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5758]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security


Action Affecting Export Privileges; Balli Group PLC, Balli 
Aviation, Balli Holdings, Vahid Alaghband, Hassan Alaghband, Blue Sky 
One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd., Blue Sky Three Ltd., Blue Sky Four Ltd., 
Blue Sky Five Ltd., Blue Sky Six Ltd., Blue Airways, and Mahan Airways

    In the Matter of:

Balli Group PLC, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Balli Aviation, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Balli Holdings, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Vahid Alaghband, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Hassan Alaghband, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Sky One Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Sky Two Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Sky Three Ltd, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Sky Four Ltd, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;

[[Page 15131]]

Blue Sky Five Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Sky Six Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH;
Blue Airways, 8/3 D Angaght Street, 376009 Yerevan, Armenia;
Mahan Airways, Mahan Tower, No. 21, Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp. Way, 
Tehran, Iran;
Respondents

Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges

    Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the Export Administration Regulations 
(``EAR''),\1\ the Bureau of Industry and Security (``BIS''), U.S. 
Department of Commerce, through its Office of Export Enforcement 
(``OEE''), has requested that I issue an Order temporarily denying the 
export privileges under the EAR of:
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    \1\ The EAR is currently codified at 15 CFR Parts 730-774 
(2007). The EAR are issued under the Export Administration Act of 
1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. app. Sec. Sec.  2401-2420 (2000)) 
(``EAA''). Since August 21, 2001, the Act has been in lapse and the 
President, through Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001 (3 CFR, 
2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which has been extended by successive 
presidential notices, the most recent being that of August 15, 2007 
(72 FR 46137 (August 16, 2007)), has continued the Regulations in 
effect under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1701-1706 (2000)) (``IEEPA'').

(1) Balli Group PLC, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(2) Balli Aviation, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(3) Balli Holdings, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(4) Vahid Alaghband, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(5) Hassan Alaghband, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(6) Blue Sky One Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(7) Blue Sky Two Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(8) Blue Sky Three Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(9) Blue Sky Four Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(10) Blue Sky Five Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(11) Blue Sky Six Ltd., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH.
(12) Blue Airways, 8/3 D Angaght Street, 376009 Yerevan, Armenia.
(13) Mahan Airways, Mahan Tower, No. 21, Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp. 
Way, Tehran, Iran.

(hereinafter collectively referred to as ``Respondents'') for 180 days.

    In its request, BIS has presented evidence that Respondents 
knowingly engaged in conduct prohibited by the EAR by reexporting three 
U.S. origin aircraft to Iran and that Respondents are preparing to 
reexport three additional U.S. origin aircraft to Iran without the U.S. 
Government authorization required by Section 746.7 of the EAR.
    Additionally, Respondents have made false statements to BIS 
regarding the ultimate destination and end-user of the aircraft, and 
have failed to comply with a BIS order to return three aircraft to the 
U.S. False statements made to BIS directly or indirectly constitute 
violations of the EAR.
    Specifically, BIS has produced evidence that in or about 2006 the 
Balli Group PLC, a United Kingdom company, and Blue Sky One Ltd., Blue 
Sky Two Ltd., and Blue Sky Three Ltd., all of which fall under the same 
parent corporation, Balli Holdings, acquired three U.S. origin 
aircraft, items subject to the EAR and classified under Export Control 
Classification Number (``ECCN'') 9A991.b. Respondents allege Blue Sky 
One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd. and Blue Sky Three Ltd., are used as 
investment vehicles that each own one aircraft for long term leases to 
airlines. Respondents have stated to BIS that the aircraft were leased 
to Blue Airways, located in Armenia, and have not and would not be 
subleased or otherwise reexported to Mahan Air or any other Iranian 
entity. Multiple open sources contradict these statements and show that 
the aircraft, identifiable by serial number and tail number, are now 
controlled and/or operated by Mahan Airways, an Iranian company. No 
U.S. Government authorization was obtained for the reexport of these 
three aircraft.
    Further, BIS's investigation has revealed that Respondents are 
attempting to divert three additional U.S. origin aircraft of the same 
type to Mahan Airways. The aircraft are currently located outside the 
United States and are owned by Blue Sky Four Ltd., Blue Sky Five Ltd. 
and Blue Sky Six Ltd. No U.S. Government authorization has been 
obtained for the reexport of these three aircraft to Iran. When 
questioned by BIS, Respondents claimed that the aircraft are not 
destined for Mahan Airways or any other Iranian entity. On February 22, 
2008, BIS ordered the redelivery of these three additional aircraft to 
the United States in accordance with Section 758.8(b) of the EAR. The 
Respondents have not complied with this order and have indicated that 
they will not cooperate. Respondents' failure to obey this order is a 
violation of the EAR and is further evidence that an imminent violation 
is likely to occur absent the issuance of a TDO.
    I find that the evidence presented by BIS demonstrates that the 
Respondents have knowingly violated the EAR and that such violations 
are significant, deliberate, covert and likely to occur again absent 
the issuance of a TDO. I also find that BIS has produced evidence 
demonstrating that additional violations are imminent in time as well. 
As such, a TDO is needed to give notice to persons and companies in the 
United States and abroad that they should cease dealing with the 
Respondents in export transactions involving items subject to the EAR. 
Such a TDO is consistent with the public interest to preclude future 
violations of the EAR.
    Accordingly, I find that a TDO naming Balli Group PLC, Balli 
Aviation, Balli Holdings, Vahid Alaghband, Hassan Alaghband, Blue Sky 
One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd., Blue Sky Three Ltd., Blue Sky Four Ltd., 
Blue Sky Five Ltd., Blue Sky Six Ltd., Blue Airways, and Mahan Airways 
as Respondents is necessary, in the public interest, to prevent an 
imminent violation of the EAR. This Order is issued on an ex parte 
basis without a hearing based upon BIS's showing of an imminent 
violation.
    It is therefore ordered:
    First, that the Respondents, BALLI GROUP PLC, 5 Stanhope Gate, 
London, UK, W1K 1AH; BALLI AVIATION, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 
1AH; BALLI HOLDINGS, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; VAHID 
ALAGHBAND, 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; HASSAN ALAGHBAND, 5 
Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; BLUE SKY ONE LTD., 5 Stanhope Gate, 
London, UK, W1K 1AH; BLUE SKY TWO LTD., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, 
W1K 1AH; BLUE SKY THREE LTD., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; 
BLUE SKY FOUR LTD., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; BLUE SKY FIVE 
LTD., 5 Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; BLUE SKY SIX LTD., 5 
Stanhope Gate, London, UK, W1K 1AH; BLUE AIRWAYS, 8/3 D Angaght Street, 
376009 Yerevan, Armenia; and MAHAN AIRWAYS, Mahan Tower, No. 21, 
Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp. Way, Tehran, Iran (each a ``Denied 
Person'' and collectively the ``Denied Persons'') may not, directly or 
indirectly, participate in any way in any transaction involving any 
commodity, software or technology (hereinafter collectively referred to 
as ``item'') exported or to be exported from the United States that is 
subject to the Export Administration Regulations (``EAR''), or in any 
other activity subject to the EAR including, but not limited to:
    A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, license 
exception, or export control document;

[[Page 15132]]

    B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying, 
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of, 
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way, 
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the 
United States that is subject to the EAR, or in any other activity 
subject to the EAR; or
    C. Benefiting in any way from any transaction involving any item 
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to 
the EAR, or in any other activity subject to the EAR.
    Second, that no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the 
following:
    A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of any Denied Person any item 
subject to the EAR;
    B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted 
acquisition by any Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or 
control of any item subject to the EAR that has been or will be 
exported from the United States, including financing or other support 
activities related to a transaction whereby any Denied Person acquires 
or attempts to acquire such ownership, possession or control;
    C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition 
or attempted acquisition from any Denied Person of any item subject to 
the EAR that has been exported from the United States;
    D. Obtain from any Denied Person in the United States any item 
subject to the EAR with knowledge or reason to know that the item will 
be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or
    E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the EAR 
that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is 
owned, possessed or controlled by any Denied Person, or service any 
item, of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by any 
Denied Person if such service involves the use of any item subject to 
the EAR that has been or will be exported from the United States. For 
purposes of this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, 
repair, modification or testing.
    Third, that after notice and opportunity for comment as provided in 
section 766.23 of the EAR, any other person, firm, corporation, or 
business organization related to any of the Respondents by affiliation, 
ownership, control, or position of responsibility in the conduct of 
trade or related services may also be made subject to the provisions of 
this Order.
    Fourth, that this Order does not prohibit any export, reexport, or 
other transaction subject to the EAR where the only items involved that 
are subject to the EAR are the foreign-produced direct product of U.S.-
origin technology.
    In accordance with the provisions of Section 766.24(e) of the EAR, 
the Respondents may, at any time, appeal this Order by filing a full 
written statement in support of the appeal with the Office of the 
Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 
South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4022.
    In accordance with the provisions of Section 766.24(d) of the EAR, 
BIS may seek renewal of this Order by filing a written request not 
later than 20 days before the expiration date. The Respondents may 
oppose a request to renew this Order by filing a written submission 
with the Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, which must be 
received not later than seven days before the expiration date of the 
Order.
    A copy of this Order shall be served on the Respondents and shall 
be published in the Federal Register.
    This Order is effective upon date of publication in the Federal 
Register and shall remain in effect for 180 days.

    Entered this 17th day of March, 2008.
Darryl W. Jackson,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E8-5758 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P