Index

State Department Noon Briefing, September 28, 2000

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING BRIEFER: PHIL REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ROOM, WASHINGTON, D.C. 1:40 P.M. EDT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 (ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED) Q: I think the designation of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan must now have gone through its procedural process on the Hill, and I was wondering whether you have identified any individuals who will consequently lose their visas or any assets which will be frozen? MR. REEKER: Let me tell you what I can on that subject. On September 25th, a number of you may have noticed that the United States published in the Federal Register the formal designation of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan as a foreign terrorist organization under US law. It shouldn't come as any surprise to most of you who have followed this that the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a deadly terrorist group. It has threatened the security of Uzbekistan and the region. Its publicly stated goal is the forcible overthrow of Uzbekistan's current government. And we believe that this Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was involved in explosions in Tashkent that killed 16 people, as well as a bus hijacking in 1999 in which two passengers and several police were killed. Also, in 1999, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan took a group of Japanese geologists hostage. And just last month, the group kidnapped four US citizens, who I believe were mountain climbers, and held them hostage. Fortunately, as you will recall, the four were able to escape. So the Department has had this group under review for some time and has determined that it meets the criteria to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The law authorizes the Secretary of State to make these designations, which are reviewed every two years - at least every two years - once they are made. And of course the Secretary may add or delete organizations at any time. And in terms of your specifics, I really don't have anything. There are legal consequences which may be of interest. It will be unlawful for a person in the United States, or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to provide funds or other material support to a foreign terrorist organization. And, as you indicated, representatives and certain members of designated foreign terrorist organizations - if they are aliens - can be denied visas or excluded from the United States. In terms of specific names that would fall under that category, I just don't have anything for you at this point. Q: Not specific names, but just any consequences from this move at all? MR. REEKER: Well, I just outlined two of the consequences -- Q: Have you worked out what they will be yet? MR. REEKER: Well, those are the things - once it is designated - what we will have to look at. I don't have anything to tell you now. As well, the third consequence is that US financial institutions must block funds of designated foreign terrorist organizations and their agents, and report the blockage to the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Department of Treasury. (The briefing was concluded at 2:40 P.M.)