    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [September 23, 1994]
    [Page 1600]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Belarus-United States
    Investment Treaty
    September 23, 1994

    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the United States
    of America and the Republic of Belarus Concerning the Encouragement and
    Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex, Protocol, and related
    exchange of letters, signed at Minsk on January 15, 1994. Also
    transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the
    Department of State with respect to this Treaty.
        This bilateral investment Treaty with Belarus is the sixth such
    Treaty between the United States and a newly independent state of the
    former Soviet Union. This Treaty will protect U.S. investors and assist
    the Republic of Belarus in its efforts to develop its economy by
    creating conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thus
    strengthening the development of the private sector.
        The Treaty is fully consistent with U.S. policy toward international
    and domestic investment. A specific tenet of U.S. policy, reflected in
    this Treaty, is that U.S. investment abroad and foreign investment in
    the United States should receive national treatment. Under this Treaty,
    the Parties also agree to international law standards for expropriation
    and compensation for expropriation; free transfer of funds associated
    with investments; freedom of investments from performance requirements;
    fair, equitable and most-favored-nation treatment; and the investor or
    investment's freedom to choose to resolve disputes with the host
    government through international arbitration.
        I recommend that the Senate consider this Treaty as soon as
    possible, and give its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty,
    with Annex, Protocol, and related exchange of letters, at an early date.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    September 23, 1994.