[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23344-23345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09163]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9527]


Secretary of State's Determination Under the International 
Religious Freedom Act of 1998

SUMMARY: The Secretary of State's designation of ``countries of 
particular concern'' for religious freedom violations.
    Pursuant to Section 408(a) of the International Religious Freedom 
Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby 
given that, on February 29, 2016, the Secretary of State, under 
authority delegated by the President, has designated each of the 
following as a ``country of particular concern'' (CPC) under sec. 
402(b) of the Act, for having engaged in or tolerated particularly 
severe violations of religious freedom: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, 
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, 
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
    The Secretary simultaneously designated the following Presidential 
Actions for these CPCs:
    For Burma, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 
126.1(a), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For China, the existing ongoing restriction on exports to China of 
crime control and detection instruments and equipment, under the 
Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-246), 
pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Eritrea, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 
126.1(a), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Iran, the existing ongoing travel restrictions based on serious 
human rights abuses under sec. 221(a)(1)(C) of the Iran Threat 
Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, pursuant to sec. 
402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the existing ongoing 
restrictions to which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is 
subject, pursuant to sec. 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 
Jackson-Vanik Amendment), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act;

[[Page 23345]]

    For Saudi Arabia, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act;
    For Sudan, the restriction in the annual Department of State, 
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act on making 
certain appropriated funds available for assistance to the Government 
of Sudan, currently set forth in sec. 7042(k) of the Department of 
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
2015 (Div. J, Pub. L. 113-235), and any provision of law that is the 
same or substantially the same as this provision, pursuant to sec. 
402(c)(5) of the Act;
    For Tajikistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act;
    For Turkmenistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act;
    For Uzbekistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national 
interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act.

    Dated: April 14, 2016.
Dave Morris,
Acting Director, Office of International Religious Freedom, Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-09163 Filed 4-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-18-P