    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 3, 1997]
    [Pages 1492-1493]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on the National Emergency With Respect to Sudan
    November 3, 1997

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic
    Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b), I hereby report to the Congress that I
    have exercised my statutory authority to declare that the policies of
    the Government of Sudan constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat
    to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and to
    declare a national emergency to deal with the threat.
        Pursuant to this legal authority, I have blocked Sudanese
    governmental assets in the United States. I have also prohibited certain
    transactions, including the following: (1) the importation into the
    United States of any goods or services of Sudanese origin, other than
    information or informational materials; (2) the exportation or
    reexportation to Sudan of any nonexempt goods, technology, or services
    from the United States; (3) the facilitation by any United States person
    of the exportation or reexportation of goods, technology, or services
    from Sudan to any destination, or to Sudan from any destination; (4) the
    performance by any United States

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    person of any contract, including a financing contract, in support of an
    industrial, commercial, public utility, or governmental project in
    Sudan; (5) the grant or extension of credits or loans by any United
    States person to the Government of Sudan; and (6) any transaction by any
    United States person relating to transportation of cargo to, from, or
    through Sudan, or by Sudanese vessel or aircraft.
        We intend to license only those activities that serve U.S.
    interests. Transactions necessary to conduct the official business of
    the United States Government and the United Nations are exempted. This
    order and subsequent licenses will allow humanitarian, diplomatic, and
    journalistic activities to continue. Other activities may be considered
    for licensing on a case-by-case basis based on their merits. We will
    continue to permit regulated transfers of fees and stipends from the
    Government of Sudan to Sudanese students in the United States. Among the
    other activities we may consider licensing are those permitting American
    citizens resident in Sudan to make payments for their routine living
    expenses, including taxes and utilities; the importation of certain
    products unavailable from other sources, such as gum arabic; and
    products to ensure civilian aircraft safety.
        I have decided to impose comprehensive sanctions in response to the
    Sudanese government's continued provision of sanctuary and support for
    terrorist groups, its sponsorship of regional insurgencies that threaten
    neighboring governments friendly to the United States, its continued
    prosecution of a devastating civil war, and its abysmal human rights
    record that includes the denial of religious freedom and inadequate
    steps to eradicate slavery in the country.
        The behavior of the Sudanese government directly threatens stability
    in the region and poses a direct threat to the people and interests of
    the United States. Only a fundamental change in Sudan's policies will
    enhance the peace and security of people in the United States, Sudan,
    and around the world. My Administration will continue to work with the
    Congress to develop the most effective policies in this regard.
        The above-described measures, many of which reflect congressional
    concerns, will immediately demonstrate to the Sudanese government the
    seriousness of our concern with the situation in that country. It is
    particularly important to increase pressure on Sudan to engage seriously
    during the current round of negotiations taking place now in Nairobi.
    The sanctions will also deprive the Sudanese government of the material
    and financial benefits of conducting trade and financial transactions
    with the United States.
        The prohibitions set forth in this order shall be effective as of
    12:01 a.m., eastern standard time, November 4, 1997, and shall be
    transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register. The
    Executive order provides 30 days in which to complete trade transactions
    with Sudan covered by contracts that predate the order and the
    performance of preexisting financing agreements for those trade
    initiatives.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 3, 1997.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    November 4. The Executive order of November 3 is listed in Appendix D at
    the end of this volume.