Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II) - Letter to Congressional Leaders on Additional Sanctions Under the National Emergency With Respect to Angola (UNITA)

[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[August 18, 1998]
[Pages 1458-1459]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Additional Sanctions Under the 
National Emergency With Respect to Angola (UNITA)
August 18, 1998

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    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 take additional steps with 
respect to the actions and policies of the National Union for the Total 
Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the national emergency declared in 
Executive Order 12865.
    The circumstances that led to the declaration on September 26, 1993, 
of a national emergency have not been resolved. The actions and policies 
of UNITA continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the 
foreign policy of the United States. United Nations Security Council

[[Page 1459]]

Resolution 864 (1993) imposed prohibitions against the sale of weapons, 
military materiel, and petroleum products to UNITA. United Nations 
Security Council Resolutions 1127 of August 28, 1997, and 1130 of 
September 29, 1997, imposed additional sanctions against UNITA due to 
the serious difficulties in the Angolan peace process resulting from 
delays by UNITA in the implementation of its essential obligations as 
established by the Lusaka Peace Protocol of November 20, 1994.
    Recently, the United Nations Security Council acted to impose 
additional sanctions in response to UNITA's failure to comply with its 
obligations under the Lusaka Peace Protocol, which has jeopardized the 
return of peace to Angola. United Nations Security Council Resolutions 
1173 of June 12, 1998, and 1176 of June 24, 1998, responded in 
particular to UNITA's continued refusal to allow the Government of 
Angola to establish state administration over four towns that remain 
under UNITA's control. These resolutions demand UNITA's compliance with 
its obligations under the Lusaka Peace Protocol, including 
demilitarization of all its forces, and full cooperation in the process 
of allowing the Government of Angola to extend its authority throughout 
Angola.
    Accordingly, and pursuant to the requirements of United Nations 
Security Council Resolutions 1173 and 1176, I have exercised my 
statutory authority and issued an Executive order which: (1) blocks 
property and property interests (within the United States or within the 
possession or control of United States persons) of UNITA, and of 
designated senior officials of UNITA and adult members of their 
immediate families; (2) prohibits the importation into the United States 
of all diamonds exported from Angola that are not controlled by a 
Certificate of Origin regime of the Government of Angola; (3) prohibits 
the sale or supply to Angola from the United States or by United States 
persons, except through designated points of entry, of motorized 
vehicles, watercraft, and spare parts for the foregoing, and equipment 
used in mining, regardless of origin; and (4) prohibits the sale or 
supply to Angola from the United States or by United States persons of 
mining services or of ground or waterborne transportation services, 
regardless of origin, to persons in UNITA-held territory. The order also 
prohibits any transaction by a United States person, or within the 
United States, that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or 
avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in 
the order.
    In furtherance of the goals of United Nations Security Council 
Resolutions 1173 and 1176, and of the foreign policy interests of the 
United States, the order makes explicit that exemptions from the 
prohibitions that it imposes may be authorized for medical and 
humanitarian purposes.
    The order defines UNITA to include: (1) the National Union for the 
Total Independence of Angola; (2) the Armed Forces for the Liberation of 
Angola (FALA); and (3) any person acting or purporting to act for or on 
behalf of the foregoing, including the Center for Democracy in Angola 
(CEDA).
    The measures taken in the order will immediately demonstrate to 
UNITA the seriousness of our concern over its delays in implementing the 
peace process. The blocking of UNITA's property and the other 
prohibitions imposed under this Executive order will further limit 
UNITA's capacity to pay for its military build-up and to undermine the 
peace process. It is particularly important for the United States and 
the international community to demonstrate to UNITA the necessity of 
completing the peace process in Angola.
    When UNITA fully complies with its obligations and completes its 
transition from an armed movement to an unarmed political party, the 
United States will support measures lifting these sanctions.
    I am enclosing a copy of the Executive order I have issued. The 
order is effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern daylight time on August 19, 
1998.
        Sincerely,

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate. This 
letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on August 19. 
The Executive order of August 18 is listed in Appendix D at the end of 
this volume.