Press Releases: U.S. Department of State Concludes $30 Million Settlement of Alleged Export Violations by FLIR Systems, Inc.


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 25, 2018


The Department of State has concluded an administrative settlement with FLIR Systems, Inc. of Wilsonville, Oregon, to resolve alleged violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 22 U.S.C. § 2751 et seq., and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130. The Department of State and FLIR have reached this settlement following an extensive compliance review by the Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance in the Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

The U.S. Department of State and FLIR have reached an agreement pursuant to ITAR § 128.11 to address alleged unauthorized exports of defense articles, including technical data; the unauthorized provision of defense services; violation of the terms of provisos or other limitations of license authorizations; and the failure to maintain specific records involving ITAR-controlled transactions. FLIR’s alleged unauthorized exports also included the retransfer of ITAR-controlled technical data and provision of defense services to dual national employees of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Cuba to which the United States restricts exports of defense articles and defense services.

The settlement demonstrates the Department’s role in strengthening U.S. industry by protecting U.S. defense articles, including technical data, from unauthorized export through the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). The settlement also highlights the importance of ensuring effective oversight of intra-company transfers of controlled defense articles and the need to obtain appropriate authorization from the Department for such transfers to foreign-person employees.

Under the terms of the four-year Consent Agreement, FLIR will pay a civil penalty of $30,000,000. The Department has agreed to suspend $15,000,000 of this amount on the condition that the funds have or will be used for Department-approved Consent Agreement remedial compliance measures. Also, FLIR must hire an external Designated Official to oversee the Consent Agreement, which would require the company to conduct two external audits to assess and improve its compliance program during the Agreement term as well as implement additional compliance measures.

FLIR voluntarily disclosed certain alleged AECA and ITAR violations, which are resolved under this settlement to the Department. FLIR also acknowledged the serious nature of the alleged violations, cooperated with the Department’s review, and instituted a number of compliance program improvements during the course of the Department’s review. For these reasons, the Department has determined that an administrative debarment of FLIR is not appropriate at this time.

The Department’s Consent Agreement with FLIR Systems, Inc, and related documents will be available for public inspection in the Public Reading Room of the Department of State and on Penalty and Oversights Agreements section of the DDTC website.

For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at pm-cpa@state.gov.






Press Releases: Acting Secretary Sullivan Travel to Brussels


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 25, 2018


Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan will travel to Brussels, Belgium from April 26-27, to lead the U.S. delegation to the NATO Foreign Ministerial. The Acting Secretary will meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and join NATO Allies to discuss preparations for the NATO Summit that Heads of State and Government will attend in July.

While in Brussels, Acting Secretary Sullivan will also meet with State Department personnel.






Press Releases: U.S. Department of State Debars 168 Persons for Violating or Conspiring To Violate the Arms Export Control Act


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 25, 2018


On April 25, 2018, the U.S. Department of State published a Federal Register notice of 168 persons and entities who have been statutorily debarred for convictions of violating, or conspiring to violate, the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751, et seq.). This action, as required by section 127.7(b) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120-130), highlights the Department’s responsibility to protect U.S. defense articles, including technical data, and defense services from unauthorized exports and brokering.

This notice is provided for purposes of making the public aware that these statutorily debarred persons are prohibited from participating directly or indirectly in activities regulated by the ITAR. This includes any brokering activities and any export from or temporary import into the United States of defense articles, related technical data, or defense services in any situation covered by the ITAR.

The Department’s Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, working in collaboration with the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Homeland Security Investigations, identified the persons subject to statutory debarment based on their criminal conviction by a court of the United States.

Under the terms of the statutory debarment, these individuals and entities are prohibited from participating directly or indirectly in any activities that are subject to the ITAR. Each individual and entity on this list will remain debarred until the Department approves an application request for reinstatement. All persons engaged in activities subject to the ITAR should be vigilant in their compliance with all export control regulations and ensure that their activities do not involve debarred persons.

The notice of statutory debarment listing the names of the debarred individuals and entities was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2018. A full list of all persons subject to statutory debarment is available on the website of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at pm-cpa@state.gov.






Press Releases: Welcome Step Forward in Transnistria Peace Process in Moldova


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 24, 2018


The United States supports a comprehensive settlement of the Transnistria conflict, and we welcome this week’s agreement to allow vehicles from Transnistria to legally travel on roads outside of Moldova. This will bring real benefits to the lives of people on both sides of the Nistru River. We urge all sides to capitalize on this agreement and implement the three remaining “Package of Eight” deliverables that the sides reaffirmed in the 2017 Vienna Protocol. This is the only path to a settlement of one of Europe’s longest-running conflicts. Any such settlement must be based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, with a special status for Transnistria within Moldova’s internationally recognized borders.






Press Releases: The United States Urges Constructive Dialogue in Armenia


Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

April 24, 2018


The coming days represent a historic moment for the people of Armenia and its elected leaders, as they embark on the process of forming a new government. We urge all sides to engage constructively, within the legal framework of the Armenian constitution, to ensure a peaceful transition of power that follows the rule of law. We look forward to working closely with a new government on the many areas of shared interest between the United States and Armenia. As a friend and partner to Armenia, we commend the Armenian people for engaging in dialogue to forge their sovereign future through democratic and peaceful means.