Jewish Leaders Praise Treasury Department Action Against Syrian WMD Proliferators

New York, January 8, 2007 … “The Administration should be congratulated for taking an important step against Syrian programs to develop biological and chemical weapons and the missiles to deliver them. Syrian weapons of mass destruction pose a direct threat to Israel and potentially to Lebanon and other Middle East countries, as well as to US troops in the region,” said Harold Tanner, Conference Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman.

“Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a critical and global problem and should be of highest concern to all responsible governments. By designating three state-sponsored entities for financial sanctions, the Treasury Department is sending a clear signal that the international community should end all cooperation with these organizations. We appreciate the actions that the governments of Japan and South Korea have also taken in connection with these Syrian entities,” added the Jewish leaders.

The Treasury Department designated three Syrian organizations – the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology (HIAST), the Electronics Institute, and the National Standards and Calibration Laboratory (NSCL) – as proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which authorizes the freezing of assets of WMD proliferators and those of their supporters.

According to the Treasury Department, the three organizations are subsidiaries of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), which “is the Syrian government agency responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons and the missiles to deliver them. SSRC also has an overtly promoted civilian research function; however, its activities focus substantively on the development of biological and chemical weapons. Syria’s Electronics Institute is responsible for missile-related research and development, and HIAST is a Syrian educational institution which provides training to SSRC engineers … Designations under E.O. 13382 prohibit all transactions between the designees and any U.S. person and freeze any assets of the designees that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons.”