    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 8, 1991]
    [Page 484]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 484]]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Foreign Access to United
    States Ports
    May 8, 1991

        The President today announced a major revision in U.S. port access
    policy which will provide access for commercial cargo, passenger,
    fishing, and fishing support vessels of the countries of Eastern Europe
    to all U.S. ports on the basis of 24 hours' notice of entry into the
    port. This includes the 12 U.S. ports previously closed for national
    security reasons to vessels from the region. These ports are:

    Charleston, SC
    Hampton Roads, VA
    Honolulu, HI
    Kings Bay, GA
    New London and Groton, CT
    Panama City, FL
    Pensacola, FL
    Port Canaveral, FL
    Port Hueneme, CA
    Port St. Joe, FL
    Portsmouth, NH
    San Diego, CA

        This revision is the result of a comprehensive interagency review,
    and is designed to stimulate commercial trade between the U.S. and the
    region. It was taken in recognition of the progress these countries have
    made toward democracy and the rule of law.
        This policy change is designed to facilitate the development of
    trade between the U.S. and the countries of Eastern Europe by opening
    some of the largest U.S. bulk and container ports to their fleets.
    Previously, access for Bulgarian, Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Polish,
    and Romanian vessels required up to 14 days' advance request prior to
    entering a U.S. port, and vessels of Albania were denied access to all
    U.S. ports and the U.S. territorial waters.
        It represents another step by the U.S. in discarding cold war
    restrictions and in welcoming the countries of Eastern Europe into the
    international community of democratic nations. It is taken in
    recognition of the progress these six countries have made toward
    democracy and freedom. This change also significantly reduces the
    administrative burden on the U.S. Coast Guard and on the private sector
    for port calls associated with commercial vessels of Eastern European
    countries.
        Under this new policy, vessels of Cambodia, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya,
    North Korea, Syria, and Vietnam will continue to be ineligible to enter
    U.S. ports for national security reasons.
        There has been no change in access for vessels of the U.S.S.R. to
    the 12 U.S. ports closed for national security reasons, and this new
    policy fully protects the national security interest of the United
    States. Access to other U.S. ports for vessels of the Soviet Union will
    remain as provided for in the U.S./U.S.S.R. Maritime Agreement which was
    concluded in June 1990.