[House Document 109-11]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-11

 
    CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY RELATING TO CUBA, ET AL.

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE GOVERNMENT 
OF CUBA'S DESTRUCTION OF TWO UNARMED U.S.-REGISTERED CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT 
   IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE NORTH OF CUBA ON FEBRUARY 24, 1996, AS 
  AMENDED AND EXPANDED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2004, IS TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT 
          BEYOND MARCH 1, 2005, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1622(d)




    March 1, 2005.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
     Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, February 18, 2005.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: 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. In accordance with this provision, I have 
sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for 
publication, which states that the emergency declared with 
respect to the Government of Cuba's destruction of two unarmed 
U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in international airspace 
north of Cuba on February 24, 1996, as amended and expanded on 
February 26, 2004, is to continue in effect beyond March 1, 
2005.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.
                                 Notice

                              ----------                              


    Continuation of the National Emergency Relating to Cuba and the 
  Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and 
                          Movement of Vessels

    On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, a national 
emergency was declared to address the disturbance or threatened 
disturbance of international relations caused by the February 
24, 1996, destruction by the Cuban government of two unarmed 
U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in international airspace 
north of Cuba. In July 1996 and on subsequent occasions, the 
Cuban government stated its intent to forcefully defend its 
sovereignty against any U.S.-registered vessels or aircraft 
that might enter Cuban territorial waters or airspace while 
involved in a flotilla or peaceful protest. Since these events, 
the Cuban government has not demonstrated that it will refrain 
from the future use of reckless and excessive force against 
U.S. vessels or aircraft that may engage in memorial activities 
or peaceful protest north of Cuba. On February 26, 2004, by 
Proclamation 7757, the scope of the national emergency was 
expanded in order to deny monetary and material support to the 
repressive Cuban government, which had taken a series of steps 
to destabilize relations with the United States, including 
threatening to abrogate the Migration Accords with the United 
States and to close the United States Interests Section. 
Further, Cuba's most senior officials repeatedly asserted that 
the United States intended to invade Cuba, despite explicit 
denials from the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense that 
such action is planned. Therefore, in accordance with section 
202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I 
am continuing the national emergency with respect to Cuba and 
the emergency authority relating to the regulation of the 
anchorage and movement of vessels set out in Proclamation 6867 
as amended and expanded by Proclamation 7757.
    This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and 
transmitted to the Congress.
                                                    George W. Bush.
    The White House, February 18, 2005.