Sanctions

14 November 2007 -- Canada says it will tighten its existing sanctions against Burma because of the crackdown on pro-democracy activists by the country's military rulers.

Announcing the action Wednesday, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said there is no more room for compromise with what he called the "odious regime" in Burma.

The new sanctions include a ban on Canadian investment, trade and transfer of technical data to Burma.

The measures are seen as largely symbolic since total trade between Canada and Burma sank to $9 million last year.

Source: VOA News

31 October 2007 -- A senior Turkish official says the Cabinet has approved economic sanctions against Kurdish rebels and their supporters.

The measures could affect members of the autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq. Ankara accuses rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, of launching attacks in southeastern Turkey from bases in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Department says it is providing Ankara with the kind of intelligence on Kurdish rebels that could enable the Turkish military to take action against them.    » read more »

04 October 2007 -- Moves underway in the US Congress to impose new sanctions against Sudan have met opposition from the Bush Administration, which is telling legislators the restrictions could derail diplomatic efforts. Two well-placed officials testified at yesterday’s Senate Banking Committee hearing on a bill encouraging US states to divest from companies doing business with Sudan.    » read more »

26 June 2007 -- In another step aimed at increasing the economic cost to Iran of its controversial nuclear enrichment program, a key congressional panel has approved legislation to impose sanctions on Iran's energy sector. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill.

The House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee approved the legislation, called the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007, by a vote of 37 to 1, recommending that it be moved for consideration by the full House.    » read more »

UN and EU Should Impose Similar Measures

(New York, May 29, 2007) – Today’s US announcement imposing economic sanctions against Sudanese government-controlled companies and certain individuals is welcome but long overdue, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations Security Council and the European Union to immediately impose similar sanctions against Sudan.    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement today in response to newly announced sanctions against Sudan:    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today after President Bush announced new U.S. economic sanctions on Sudan, intended to pressure the Sudanese government to end the genocide in Darfur:    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- Chicago, IL--Senator Obama today released the following statement in response to President Bush's announcement of sanctions on the Sudanese government.

"President Bush's announcement today that he will finally impose tightened sanctions on the Sudanese government is welcome. But, it falls well short of what is necessary to compel Khartoum to stop the four year-old genocide."    » read more »

Bush urges Khartoum to end genocide in Darfur

29 May 2007 -- Washington –- The United States will tighten economic sanctions against Sudan for failing to end the violence in Darfur, President Bush announced May 29.

“For too long, the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder and rape of innocent civilians,” Bush said.    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. For too long, the people of Darfur have suffered at the hands of a government that is complicit in the bombing, murder, and rape of innocent civilians. My administration has called these actions by their rightful name: genocide. The world has a responsibility to help put an end to it.    » read more »

Financial enforcement undercuts rogue regimes ability to conduct business

19 April 2007 -- Washington – The United States is expanding its use of targeted sanctions aimed at halting nuclear proliferation, terrorism and money laundering, and encouraging other countries to do likewise, U.S. officials say.    » read more »