Taken Question: Syria - Payment of Locally Engaged Staff

Syria: Payment of Locally Engaged Staff Employed by the U.S. Embassy in Damascus (Taken Question)

Taken Question
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
February 7, 2012

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Question: Can the U.S. confirm that local embassy staff are continuing to get paid? If so, how are the funds transferred?

Answer: Locally engaged staff members employed by the U.S. Embassy in Damascus continue to be paid. Executive Order (EO) 13582 includes an exception to the sanctions which allows the U.S. to continue payments associated with the conduct of official business. The United States has used this exception to pay locally engaged staff.

ENDS

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