print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  
In Focus
News
More News more news

News by Date

Appointments

Federal Facts

West Wing

 Home > News & Policies > May 2002

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 29, 2002

Letter from the President to House and Senate
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

May 27, 2002

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication, stating that the national emergencies declared with respect to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) (the "FRY (S&M)") in 1992 and 1998, are to continue beyond May 30, 2002, and June 9, 2002, respectively. The most recent notice continuing these emergencies was published in the Federal Register on May 25, 2001.

1992 National Emergency. The 1992 national emergency involved imposition of economic sanctions first on the FRY (S&M), and subsequently, on Bosnia-Serb forces in Bosnia (the "Bosnian Serbs"). On December 27, 1995, President Clinton issued Presidential Determination 96-7, directing the Secretary of the Treasury, inter alia, to suspend the application of sanctions imposed on the FRY (S&M) and to continue to block property previously blocked until provision is made to address claims or encumbrances, including the claims of the other successor states of the former Yugoslavia. This sanctions relief, in conformity with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1022 of November 22, 1995, was an essential factor motivating Serbia and Montenegro's acceptance of a peace agreement initialed in Dayton on November 21, 1995, and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995 (hereinafter the "Peace Agreement").

Sanctions against both the FRY (S&M) and the Bosnian Serbs were subsequently terminated in conjunction with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1074 of October 1, 1996. This termination, however, did not end a requirement that those blocked funds and assets that are subject to claims and encumbrances remain blocked, until unblocked in accordance with applicable law.

Until the status of all remaining blocked property is resolved, the Peace Agreement implemented, and the terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1022 met, this situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the 1992 national emergency, and the measures adopted pursuant thereto, to respond to this threat.

1998 National Emergency. The 1998 national emergency involved sanctions imposed on the FRY (S&M) in response to its actions in Kosovo. On January 17, 2001, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13192 lifting and modifying, with respect to future transactions, most of the economic sanctions imposed against the FRY (S&M) with regard to the situation in Kosovo. At the same time, the order imposes restrictions on transactions with certain persons described in section 1(a) of the order, and persons under open indictment for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It also provides for the continued blocking of property or interests in property blocked prior to the order's effective date due to the need to address claims and encumbrances involving such property.

Because the crisis with respect to the situation in Kosovo, and with respect to Slobodan Milosevic, his close associates and supporters and persons under open indictment for war crimes by the ICTY has not been resolved, and because the status of all previously blocked property has yet to be resolved, this situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that the emergency declared with respect to Kosovo, and the measures adopted pursuant thereto, to respond to this threat must continue beyond June 9, 2002.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #