    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [April 4, 1995]
    [Pages 470-471]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Special Adviser on Assistance to the New Independent
    States of the Former Soviet Union
    April 4, 1995

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Charter for Special Adviser to the President and to the
    Secretary of State on Assistance to the New Independent States (NIS) of
    the Former Soviet Union and Coordinator of NIS Assistance

        The United States has a vital stake in the success of reform in the
    New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. Ensuring
    effective support for the transformation underway in the NIS remains
    among the highest foreign policy priorities of my Administration. Over
    the past two years, bilateral assistance programs under the FREEDOM
    Support Act have played an important role in promoting democratic and
    economic reforms in the NIS, while projects funded through the
    Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Act have promoted our
    denuclearization and nonproliferation policies. Despite remarkable
    progress, however, the success of reforms across the former Soviet Union
    is by no means assured. This fact, combined with budget realities that
    constrain the level of our financial aid to the region, make it
    imperative that our assistance be as targeted, relevant, and efficient
    as possible.
        To assure maximum coordination of efforts to promote such reforms
    and policies within the Executive branch, I hereby designate Richard L.
    Morningstar as Special Adviser to the President and to the Secretary of
    State on Assistance to the New Independent States of the former Soviet
    Union and Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to the NIS in accordance with
    Section 102 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Mr. Morningstar will also act as
    Chairman of the previously established interagency NIS Assistance
    Coordination Group. In fulfilling these duties, Mr. Morningstar will
    preside over the allocation of U.S. assistance resources and direct and
    coordinate the interagency process on the development, funding, and
    implementation of all U.S. Government bilateral assistance and trade and
    investment programs related to the NIS.
        To ensure that Mr. Morningstar will be able to carry out his
    responsibilities effectively, the Departments of Defense, Treasury,
    Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Energy,
    the Agency for International Development, United States Information
    Agency, Peace Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, National
    Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
    Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Trade and Development Agency,
    and Export-Import Bank, and any other Executive departments and agencies
    with activities related to NIS bilateral assistance and export and
    investment activities are directed, to the extent permitted by law, to
    bring all programs and budget plans for such assistance and activities
    to Mr. Morningstar for review before submission to the Office of Man-

    [[Page 471]]

    agement and Budget and before implementation. Mr. Morningstar shall be
    responsible for ensuring that all such plans are consistent with
    Administration priorities and policies. Heads of such entities shall
    designate an official at the level of Assistant Secretary or its
    equivalent to assist Mr. Morningstar in accomplishing the objectives of
    this mandate.
        Mr. Morningstar will work with the U.S. Ambassadors to the NIS to
    strengthen coordination mechanisms in the field and increase the
    effectiveness of our assistance and export and investment programs on
    the ground. Assistance activities in the field will be coordinated by
    Ambassadors or their designates.
        Mr. Morningstar will serve as a member of and consult with the Gore-
    Chernomyrdin Commission and the Policy Steering Group for the New
    Independent States to ensure that U.S. assistance and related activities
    are consistent with and support broader foreign policy objectives.
        In carrying out these duties, Mr. Morningstar will report to me
    through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and
    the Secretary of State, with policy guidance from the Policy Steering
    Group on the New Independent States.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on April 6.