[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10022-10024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03289]


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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 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28

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 six general licenses (GLs) issued in the 
Venezuela Sanctions program: GLs 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, each of 
which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

DATES: GL 23 was issued on August 5, 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 August 5, 2019, OFAC issued GLs 23, 24, 25, and 28 authorizing 
certain transactions otherwise prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 
13884 of August 5, 2019, ``Blocking Property of the Government of 
Venezuela'' (84 FR 38843). GL 28 expired on September 4, 2019.
    Also on August 5, 2019, OFAC issued GL 26, authorizing certain 
transactions otherwise prohibited by the Venezuela Sanctions 
Regulations, 31 CFR part 591, E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, ``Blocking 
Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the 
Situation in Venezuela'' (80 FR 12747), and other E.O.s issued pursuant 
to the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692.
    Also on August 5, 2019, OFAC issued GL 27, authorizing certain 
transactions otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13692, E.O. 13850 of November 
1, 2018, ``Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the 
Situation in Venezuela'' (83 FR 55243); and E.O. 13884.

[[Page 10023]]

    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 of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 23

Third-Country Diplomatic and Consular Funds Transfers Authorized

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), U.S. depository 
institutions, U.S.-registered brokers or dealers in securities, and 
U.S.-registered money transmitters are authorized to process funds 
transfers involving the Government of Venezuela that are necessary for 
the operating expenses or other official business of third-country 
diplomatic or consular missions in Venezuela.

    Note to paragraph (a): The authorization in paragraph (a) of 
this general license authorizes funds transfers involving Government 
of Venezuela persons blocked solely pursuant to Executive Order 
(E.O.) of August 5, 2019.

    (b) This general license does not authorize any transaction that is 
otherwise prohibited by E.O. of August 5, 2019, or 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, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, 
each as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or any part of 31 
CFR chapter V.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 24

Certain Transactions Involving the Government of Venezuela Related to 
Telecommunications and Mail Authorized

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all transactions involving the Government of Venezuela incident to the 
receipt and transmission of telecommunications are authorized.
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this general license, 
all transactions of common carriers involving the Government of 
Venezuela incident to the receipt or transmission of mail and packages 
between the United States and Venezuela are authorized.

    Note to paragraphs (a) and (b): The authorizations in paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of this general license authorize transactions with 
Government of Venezuela persons blocked solely pursuant to E.O. of 
August 5, 2019.

    (c) This general license does not authorize any transaction that is 
otherwise prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) of August 5, 2019, or 
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, or E.O. 13692 of 
March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or 
any part of 31 CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any 
blocked person other than the Government of Venezuela persons described 
in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this general license.

    Note to General License No. 24: Nothing in this general license 
relieves any exporter from compliance with the requirements of other 
Federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce's Bureau of 
Industry and Security.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 25

Exportation of Certain Services, Software, Hardware, and Technology 
Incident to the Exchange of Communications Over the Internet Authorized

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the 
United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to or involving the 
Government of Venezuela of services, software, hardware, and technology 
incident to the exchange of communications over the internet, such as 
instant messaging, chat and email, social networking, sharing of photos 
and movies, web browsing, blogging, web hosting, and domain name 
registration services, that would otherwise be prohibited by Executive 
Order (E.O.) of August 5, 2019, is authorized.

    Note to paragraph (a): The authorization in paragraph (a) of 
this general license authorizes transactions with Government of 
Venezuela persons blocked solely pursuant to E.O. of August 5, 2019.

    (b) This general license does not authorize any transaction that is 
otherwise prohibited by E.O. of August 5, 2019, or 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, or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, 
each as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or any part of 31 
CFR chapter V, or any transactions or dealings with any blocked person 
other than the Government of Venezuela persons described in paragraph 
(a) of this general license.

    Note to General License No. 25:  Nothing in this general license 
relieves any exporter from compliance with the requirements of other 
Federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce's Bureau of 
Industry and Security.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591

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

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 26

Emergency and Certain Other Medical Services Authorized

    (a) Emergency medical services. The provision and receipt of 
nonscheduled emergency medical services prohibited by 31 CFR part 591, 
Executive Order (E.O.) of August 5, 2019, or E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835, 
E.O. 13827, E.O. 13808, or

[[Page 10024]]

E.O. 13692, each as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, or any 
further Executive orders relating to the national emergency declared in 
E.O. 13692, are authorized.
    (b) Other medical services. (1) Except as provided in paragraph 
(b)(2) of this general license, the provision of medical services 
involving the Government of Venezuela prohibited by E.O. of August 5, 
2019 is authorized.
    (2) Paragraph (b)(1) of this general license does not authorize any 
transaction or dealing otherwise prohibited by E.O. 13850, E.O. 13835, 
E.O. 13827, E.O. 13808, or E.O. 13692, 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 persons described in paragraph (b)(1) 
of this general license.

    Note to paragraph (b): The authorization in paragraph (b)(1) of 
this general license authorizes transactions with Government of 
Venezuela persons blocked solely pursuant to E.O. of August 5, 2019.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

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 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. 27

Certain Transactions Related to Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights 
Authorized

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), all of the following 
transactions in connection with a patent, trademark, copyright or other 
form of intellectual property protection in the United States or 
Venezuela that would otherwise be prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 
13692 or E.O. 13850, each as amended by E.O. 13857 of January 25, 2019, 
or E.O. of August 5, 2019, are authorized:
    (1) The filing and prosecution of any application to obtain a 
patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property 
protection;
    (2) The receipt of a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of 
intellectual property protection;
    (3) The renewal or maintenance of a patent, trademark, copyright, 
or other form of intellectual property protection; and
    (4) The filing and prosecution of any opposition or infringement 
proceeding with respect to a patent, trademark, copyright, or other 
form of intellectual property protection, or the entrance of a defense 
to any such proceeding.
    (b) This general license authorizes the payment of fees to the 
United States Government or the Government of Venezuela, and of the 
reasonable and customary fees and charges to attorneys or 
representatives within the United States or Venezuela, in connection 
with the transactions authorized in paragraph (a) of this general 
license. Payment effected pursuant to the terms of this paragraph may 
not be made from a blocked account.
    (c) This general license does not authorize 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, each as amended by E.O. 13857, or any 
part of 31 CFR chapter V.

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL

Executive Order of August 5, 2019

Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela

GENERAL LICENSE NO. 28

Authorizing Certain Activities Necessary to the Wind Down of Operations 
or Existing Contracts Involving the Government of Venezuela

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, 
all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) of 
August 5, 2019 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind 
down of operations, contracts, or other agreements involving the 
Government of Venezuela that were in effect prior to August 5, 2019 are 
authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, September 4, 2019.

    Note to paragraph (a):  The authorization in paragraph (a) of 
this general license authorizes transactions with Government of 
Venezuela persons blocked solely pursuant to E.O. of August 5, 2019.

    (b) This general license does not authorize:
    (l) Any debit to an account of the Government of Venezuela on the 
books of a U.S. financial institution; or
    (2) Any transactions or dealings otherwise prohibited by E.O. of 
August 5, 2019, or 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, 
or E.O. 13692 of March 8, 2015, each as amended by E.O. 13857 of 
January 25, 2019, 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).

Andrea Gacki,

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

    Dated: August 5, 2019.

Andrea M. Gacki,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2023-03289 Filed 2-15-23; 8:45 am]
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