[House Document 107-166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-166


 
PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SIERRA LEONE 
                              AND LIBERIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  SIX MONTH PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO 
SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA THAT WAS DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13194, OF 
JANUARY 18, 2001 AND EXPANDED IN SCOPE IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13213, OF MAY 
     22, 2001, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1641(c) AND 50 U.S.C. 1703(c)




January 23, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, January 15, 2002.

Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: As required by section 401(c) of the 
National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c), and section 204(c) 
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 
1703(c), I transmit herewith a 6-month periodic report on the 
national emergency with respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia 
that was declared in Executive Order 13194, of January 18, 
2001, and expanded in scope in Executive Order 13213, of May 
22, 2001.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.

Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Sierra Leone 
                              and Liberia

    I hereby report to the Congress on developments over the 
course of the past 6 months concerning the national emergency 
declared in Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001, in 
response to the actions and policies of the insurgent 
Revolutionary United Front (``RUF'') in Sierra Leone and 
pursuant to which the United States imposed a general ban on 
the direct and indirect importation of all rough diamonds from 
Sierra Leone to the United States, except those imports 
controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the 
Government of Sierra Leone. On May 22, 2001, I issued Executive 
Order 13213, which expanded the scope of that national 
emergency to include actions of the Government of Liberia in 
support of the RUF and prohibited the importation of all rough 
diamonds from Liberia. This report based upon information 
provided is submitted pursuant to section 204(c) of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(c), 
and section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 
1641(c).
    1. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets 
Control (OFAC) has disseminated details of this program to the 
financial and international trade communities by both 
electronic and conventional media. In the 6-month period since 
July 18, 2001, OFAC has not issued any specific licenses 
authorizing transactions otherwise prohibited by the Executive 
orders and has neither assessed nor collected any civil 
monetary penalty for a violation of the Executive orders. OFAC, 
in cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service, is closely 
monitoring potential violations of the general bans on the 
importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone which are not 
controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime and of all 
rough diamonds from Liberia.
    2. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 
6-month period from July 18, 2001 through January 17, 2002, 
that are directly attributable to the exercise of powers and 
authorities conferred by the declaration of a national 
emergency with respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia are reported 
to be approximately $100,000, most of which represent wage and 
salary costs for Federal personnel. Personnel costs were 
largely centered in the Department of the Treasury 
(particularly in the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. 
Customs Service, the Office of the Under Secretary for 
Enforcement, and the Office of the General Counsel), the 
Department of State, and the Department of Commerce.
    3. The situation in Sierra Leone has improved considerably 
since my last report. While the need for continuation of the 
order remains, we have seen significant actions by the RUF to 
suggest that the totality of actions taken in parallel with the 
order--an expanded U.N. peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, 
British training of the Sierra Leone Army, the effective rebuff 
by the Guinean military of RUF incursions and U.N. Security 
Council sanctions against RUF sponsor President Taylor of 
Liberia--are effective in wearing down RUF effectiveness and 
its will to continue the conflict. Until the threat from the 
RUF is completely eliminated, along with its control of and 
illegal exploitation of diamond mining areas, the threat to 
U.S. foreign policy remains and Executive Order 13194 will 
remain in effect.