[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52603-52604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26569]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Secretary
[Public Notice 2613]


Determination on Export-Import Bank Support for the Sale to the 
Commonwealth of the Bahamas of Defense Articles or Services to be Used 
Primarily for Counter-Narcotics Purposes

    Pursuant to section 2(b)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, 
as amended, and Executive Order 11958 of January 18, 1977, as amended 
by Executive Order 12680 of July 5, 1989, I hereby determine that:
    (1) The defense articles and services for which the Government of 
the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has requested Export-Import Bank 
financial guarantees, two (2) 60 meter patrol craft, are being sold 
primarily for anti-narcotics purposes;
    (2) The sale of such defense articles and services would be in the 
national interest of the United States;
    (3) The requirement for a determination that the Commonwealth of 
The Bahamas has complied with all restrictions imposed by the United 
States on the end use of defense articles or services for which the 
Export-Import Bank has provided guarantees or insurance under section 
2(b)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act is inapplicable because the 
pending financing will be the first Ex-Im Bank transaction with The 
Bahamas made under section 2(b((6) of the Act.
    (4) The requirement for a determination that the Commonwealth of 
The Bahamas has not used defense articles or services for which the 
Export-Import Bank has provided guarantees or insurance under section 
2(b)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act to engage in a consistent pattern 
of gross violations of international recognized human rights is 
inapplicable because the pending financing will be the first Ex-Im Bank 
transaction with The Bahamas made under section 2(b)(6) of the Act.
    The determination shall be reported to the Congress and shall be 
published in the Federal Register.

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Strobe Talbott,
Acting Secretary of State.

Justification for Determination

    Pursuant to Section 2(b)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, 
as amended, and E.O. 12680 of July 5, 1989, I have made the 
determination required to authorize financing by the Export-Import Bank 
of the United States of defense articles or services to be used by the 
Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas primarily for counter-
narcotics purposes.
    The defense articles to be financed are two (2) 60 meter patrol 
boats built by Halter Marine, Gulfport, Mississippi. The new boats, by 
giving The Bahamas a better means for patrolling its large territorial 
waters, will further the joint U.S.-Bahamas effort (``Operation Bahamas 
and Turks (OPBAT)'') to curtail the northward flow of cocaine, 
marijuana and other illegal substances from their production centers to 
the south.
    Based on assurances from the Government of the Commonwealth of The 
Bahamas and the assessment of our Embassy in The Bahamas, I have 
determined that the vessels to be financed by the Export-Import Bank 
will be used primarily for counter-narcotics purposes. I have also 
determined that the sale will enhance U.S. Bahamas counter-narcotics 
cooperation and is therefore in the national interest. The Bahamas is a 
major drug transit country that the President has certified has 
cooperated fully with the United States

[[Page 52604]]

or taken adequate steps on its own to achieve fully compliance with the 
goals and objectives established by United Nations Convention Against 
Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance. The 
Bahamas is a stale parliamentary democracy,
    Since this is the first financing by the Export-Import Bank of 
defense items or services to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas under 
section 2(b)(6) of the Export-Import Bank Act, the other determinations 
required by the Act are inapplicble.

[FR Doc. 97-26569 Filed 10-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-10-M