[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 84 (Thursday, June 13, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H3371-H3372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIONS AND 
  POLICIES OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF BELARUS AND OTHER 
 PERSONS TO UNDERMINE BELARUS'S DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES OR INSTITUTIONS--
  MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 113-36)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rothfus) laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) 
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, 
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the 
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits

[[Page H3372]]

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 to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice 
stating that the national emergency with respect to the actions and 
policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other 
persons to undermine Belarus's democratic processes or institutions 
that was declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, is to 
continue in effect beyond June 16, 2013.
  In 2012, the Government of Belarus continued its crackdown against 
political opposition, civil society, and independent media. The 
September 23 elections failed to meet international standards. The 
government arbitrarily arrested, detained, and imprisoned citizens for 
criticizing officials or for participating in demonstrations; 
imprisoned at least one human rights activist on manufactured charges; 
and prevented independent media from disseminating information and 
materials. These actions show that the Government of Belarus has not 
taken steps forward in the development of democratic governance and 
respect for human rights.
  The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of 
Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus's democratic processes 
or institutions, to commit human rights abuses related to political 
repression, and to engage in public corruption continue to pose an 
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign 
policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it 
is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive 
Order 13405 with respect to Belarus.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, June 13, 2013.

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