President Clinton signed an Executive Order, effective July 6, 1999, imposing an assets freeze and trade embargo against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The order blocked all property or interests in property of the Taliban or entities designated as owned or controlled or acting on its behalf. Imports and exports of goods and services to the Taliban or to areas of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban also are prohibited by the order. On August 10, 1999, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) advised that it had determined that Ariana Afghan Airlines (f/k/a Bakhtar Afghan Airlines) in Kabul, Afghanistan, is an entity controlled by the Taliban, subjecting its property to blocking pursuant to the Executive Order.

Attached is updated information from OFAC concerning changes to the list of Specially Designated Nationals affected by the order. OFAC has asked that we distribute the update to all FDIC-regulated institutions so records can be checked for accounts that are required to be blocked. OFAC information also may be found on the Internet at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/office-of-foreign-assets-control-sanctions-programs-and-information .

Please distribute this information to the appropriate personnel in your institution. For further information about Executive Orders, the list of blocked accounts, or the procedures to block accounts, please call OFAC's Compliance Programs Division at 1-800-540-6322. For your reference, all FDIC Financial Institution Letters published since January of 1995 may be found on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov under "News, Events, FOIA."

Attachment: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/office-of-foreign-assets-control-sanctions-programs-and-information

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of FDIC financial institutions letters may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (800-276-6003 or (703) 562-2200).