[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 27559-27560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11582]



[[Page 27557]]

Vol. 77

Thursday,

No. 91

May 10, 2012

Part IV





The President





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Notice of May 9, 2012--Continuation of the National Emergency With 
Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 91 / Thursday, May 10, 2012 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 27559]]

                Notice of May 9, 2012

                
Continuation of the National Emergency With 
                Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

                On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the 
                International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 
                1701-1706, and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese 
                Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108-
                175, the President issued Executive Order 13338, in 
                which he declared a national emergency with respect to 
                the actions of the Government of Syria. To deal with 
                this national emergency, Executive Order 13338 
                authorized the blocking of property of certain persons 
                and prohibited the exportation or reexportation of 
                certain goods to Syria. The national emergency was 
                modified in scope and relied upon for additional steps 
                taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006, 
                Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, Executive 
                Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 13573 of 
                May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, 
                Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive 
                Order 13608 of May 1, 2012.

                The President took these actions to deal with the 
                unusual and extraordinary threat to the national 
                security, foreign policy, and economy of the United 
                States constituted by the actions of the Government of 
                Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-
                existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of 
                mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining 
                U.S. and international efforts with respect to the 
                stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.

                While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of 
                foreign fighters bound for Iraq, the regime's own 
                brutality and repression of its citizens who have been 
                calling for freedom and a representative government 
                endangers not only the Syrian people themselves, but 
                could yield greater instability throughout the region. 
                The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including 
                obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to 
                function effectively, pursuing chemical and biological 
                weapons, and supporting terrorist organizations, 
                continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to 
                the national security, foreign policy, and economy of 
                the United States. As a result, the national emergency 
                declared on May 11, 2004, and the measures adopted on 
                that date in Executive Order 13338; on April 25, 2006, 
                in Executive Order 13399; on February 13, 2008, in 
                Executive Order 13460; on April 29, 2011, in Executive 
                Order 13572; on May 18, 2011, in Executive Order 13573; 
                on August 17, 2011, in Executive Order 13582; on April 
                22, 2012, in Executive Order 13606; and on May 1, 2012, 
                in Executive Order 13608, to deal with that emergency 
                must continue in effect beyond May 11, 2012. Therefore, 
                in accordance with section 202(d) of the National 
                Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1622(d), I am continuing for 
                1 year the national emergency declared with respect to 
                the actions of the Government of Syria.

[[Page 27560]]

                In addition, the United States condemns the Asad 
                regime's use of brutal violence and human rights abuses 
                and calls on the Asad regime to step aside and 
                immediately begin a transition in Syria to a political 
                process that will forge a credible path to a future of 
                greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and justice. 
                The United States will consider changes in the 
                composition, policies, and actions of the Government of 
                Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate 
                this national emergency in the future. This notice 
                shall be published in the Federal Register and 
                transmitted to the Congress.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    May 9, 2012.

[FR Doc. 2012-11582
Filed 5-9-12; 2:00 pm]
Billing code 3295-F2-P