[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.