[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6628-6630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02112]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Part 591
Publication of Venezuela Sanctions Regulations Web General
Licenses 14, 15, and Subsequent Iterations
AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.
ACTION: Publication of web general licenses.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is publishing five general licenses (GLs) issued in the
Venezuela Sanctions program: GLs 14, 15, 15A, 15B, and 15C, each of
which was previously made available on OFAC's website.
DATES: GL 14 was issued on January 28, 2019. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for additional relevant dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for
Licensing, 202-622-2480; Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs,
202-622-4855; or Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance &
Evaluation, 202-622-2490.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability
This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
available on OFAC's website: www.treas.gov/ofac.
Background
On January 28, 2019, OFAC issued GL 14 to authorize certain
transactions otherwise prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 13692 of
March 8, 2015, ``Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain
Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela'' (80 FR 12747,
March 11, 2015); E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, ``Imposing Additional
Sanctions With Respect to the Situation in Venezuela'' (82 FR 41155,
August 29, 2017); E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, ``Taking Additional
Steps to Address the Situation in Venezuela'' (83 FR 12469, March 21,
2018); E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, ``Prohibiting Certain Additional
Transactions With Respect to Venezuela'' (83 FR 24001, May 24, 2018);
and E.O. 13850 of November 1, 2018, ``Blocking Property of Additional
Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela'' (83 FR 55243,
November 2, 2018). On November 22, 2019, GL 14 was incorporated into
the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591.
On March 22, 2019, OFAC issued GL 15 to authorize certain
transactions otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850. Subsequently, OFAC
issued three further iterations of GL 15: on April 17, 2019, OFAC
issued GL 15A, which superseded GL 15; on August 5, 2019, OFAC issued
GL 15B, which superseded GL 15A and authorized certain transactions
otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, ``Blocking
Property of the Government of Venezuela'' (84 FR 38843, August 7, 2019)
as well as those prohibited by E.O. 13850; and on March 12, 2020, OFAC
issued GL 15C, which superseded GL 15B.
Each GL was made available on OFAC's website (www.treas.gov/ofac)
when it was issued. The text of these GLs is provided below.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015
Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing
to the Situation in Venezuela
Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017
Imposing Additional Sanctions With Respect to the Situation in
Venezuela
Executive Order 13827 of March 19, 2018
Taking Additional Steps To Address the Situation in Venezuela
Executive Order 13835 of May 21, 2018
Prohibiting Certain Additional Transactions With Respect to Venezuela
Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018
Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation
in Venezuela
GENERAL LICENSE 14
Official Business of the United States Government
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license,
all transactions that are for the conduct of the official business of
the United States Government by employees, grantees, or contractors
thereof are authorized.
(b) This general license does not authorize any transaction that is
prohibited by any part of 31 CFR chapter V other than part 591.
Andrea Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Dated: January 28, 2019.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018
Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation
in Venezuela
GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15
Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks Prohibited by
Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license,
all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.)
13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019 (``Taking
Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to
Venezuela''), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the
activities of the following entities, and
[[Page 6629]]
their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco
Universal (Banco de Venezuela) or Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la
Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario
del Pueblo) are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time,
March 22, 2020:
MasterCard Incorporated
Visa Inc.
American Express Company
Western Union Company
MoneyGram International
(b) This general license does not authorize:
(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico
y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes
Uruguay);
(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13850,
as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as
authorized by paragraph (a); or
(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited under E.O. 13850
of November 1, 2018, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March
19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015,
each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any
transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the blocked
persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license.
Bradley T. Smith,
Deputy Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Dated: March 22, 2019.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018
Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation
in Venezuela
GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15A
Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks Prohibited by
Executive Order 13850 for Certain Entities
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license,
all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.)
13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019 (``Taking
Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to
Venezuela'') (E.O. 13850), that are ordinarily incident and necessary
to the activities of the following entities, and their subsidiaries,
which involve Banco de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de
Venezuela), Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y
Comunas, Banco Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), or Banco
Central de Venezuela are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight
time, March 22, 2020:
MasterCard Incorporated
Visa Inc.
American Express Company
Western Union Company
MoneyGram International
(b) This general license does not authorize:
(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico
y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes
Uruguay);
(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13850
or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a);
or
(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited under E.O. 13850,
E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March 19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of
August 24, 2017, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O.
13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings
with any blocked person other than the blocked persons described in
paragraph (a) of this general license.
(c) Effective April 17, 2019, General License No. 15, dated March
22, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General
License No. 15A.
Andrea Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Dated: April 17, 2019.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018
Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation
in Venezuela
Executive Order of August 5, 2019
Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela
GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15B
Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks for Certain Entities
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license,
all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.)
13850, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or E.O. of August
5, 2019, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities
of the following entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco
de Venezuela, S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela), Banco
Bicentenario del Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco
Universal C.A. (Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), Banco del Tesoro, C.A.
Banco Universal (Banco del Tesoro), or Banco Central de Venezuela are
authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 22, 2020:
MasterCard Incorporated
Visa Inc.
American Express Company
Western Union Company
MoneyGram International
(b) This general license does not authorize:
(1) Any transactions or dealings with Banco de Desarrollo Economico
y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A. (Bandes
Uruguay);
(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to E.O. of
August 5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, as amended, or any part of 31 CFR
chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph (a); or
(3) Any transaction that is otherwise prohibited by E.O. of August
5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835 of May 21, 2018, E.O. 13827 of March
19, 2018, E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, or E.O. 13692 of March 8,
2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any part of 31 CFR chapter V,
or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person other than the
blocked persons identified in paragraph (a) of this general license.
(c) Effective August 5, 2019, General License No. 15A, dated April
17, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General
License No. 15B.
Andrea Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Dated: August 5, 2019.
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL
Venezuela Sanctions Regulations
31 CFR Part 591
GENERAL LICENSE NO. 15C
Authorizing Transactions Involving Certain Banks for Certain Entities
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license,
all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.)
13850 of November 1, 2018, as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25,
2019, or by E.O. 13884 of August 5, 2019, each as incorporated into the
Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), that are
ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities of the following
entities, and their subsidiaries, which involve Banco de Venezuela,
S.A. Banco Universal (Banco de Venezuela), Banco Bicentenario del
Pueblo, de la Clase Obrera, Mujer y Comunas, Banco Universal C.A.
(Banco Bicentenario del Pueblo), Banco del
[[Page 6630]]
Tesoro, C.A. Banco Universal (Banco del Tesoro), or Banco Central de
Venezuela are authorized:
MasterCard Incorporated
Visa Inc.
American Express Company
Western Union Company
MoneyGram International
(b) This general license does not authorize:
(1) Any transactions or activities with Banco de Desarrollo
Economico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) or Banco Bandes Uruguay S.A.
(Bandes Uruguay);
(2) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to the VSR, or
any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, except as authorized by paragraph
(a); or
(3) Any transactions or activities otherwise prohibited by the VSR,
or any other part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or
activities with any blocked person other than the blocked persons
identified in paragraph (a) of this general license.
(c) Effective March 12, 2020, General License No. 15B, dated August
5, 2019, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General
License No. 15C.
Andrea Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Dated: March 12, 2020.
Andrea M. Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2023-02112 Filed 1-31-23; 8:45 am]
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