    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [May 27, 1999]
    [Pages 855-856]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 855]]

    Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With
    Respect to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)
    May 27, 1999

    To the Congress of the United States:

        Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
    provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
    prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President
    publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice
    stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the
    anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the
    enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication, stating that
    the emergency declared with respect to the Federal Republic of
    Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) is to continue in effect beyond May
    30, 1999, and the emergency declared with respect to the situation in
    Kosovo is to continue in effect beyond June 9, 1999.

        On December 27, 1995, I issued Presidential Determination 96-7,
    directing the Secretary of the Treasury, inter alia, to suspend the
    application of sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
    (Serbia and Montenegro) and to continue to block property previously
    blocked until provision is made to address claims or encumbrances,
    including the claims of the other successor states of the former
    Yugoslavia. This sanctions relief, in conformity with United Nations
    Security Council Resolution 1022 of November 22, 1995 (hereinafter the
    ``Resolution''), was an essential factor motivating Serbia and
    Montenegro's acceptance of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in
    Bosnia and Herzegovina initialed by the parties in Dayton, Ohio, on
    November 21, 1995, and signed in Paris, France, on December 14, 1995
    (hereinafter the ``Peace Agreement''). The sanctions imposed on the
    Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) were accordingly
    suspended prospectively, effective January 16, 1996. Sanctions imposed
    on the Bosnian Serb forces and authorities and on the territory that
    they control within Bosnia and Herzegovina were subsequently suspended
    prospectively, effective May 10, 1996, also in conformity with the Peace
    Agreement and the Resolution.

        Sanctions against both the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia
    and Montenegro) and the Bosnian Serbs were subsequently terminated by
    United Nations Security Council Resolution 1074 of October 1, 1996. This
    termination, however, did not end the requirement of the Resolution that
    blocked those funds and assets that are subject to claims and
    encumbrances remain blocked, until unblocked in accordance with
    applicable law. Until the status of all remaining blocked property is
    resolved, the Peace Agreement implemented, and the terms of the
    Resolution met, this situation continues to pose a continuing unusual
    and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy
    interests, and the economy of the United States. For these reasons, I
    have determined that it is necessary to maintain in force these
    emergency authorities beyond May 30, 1999.

        On June 9, 1998, I issued Executive Order 13088, ``Blocking Property
    of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and
    Montenegro), the Republic of Serbia, and the Republic of Montenegro, and
    Prohibiting New Investment in the Republic of Serbia in Response to the
    Situation in Kosovo.'' Since then, the government of President
    Milosevic has rejected the international
    community's efforts to find a peaceful settlement for the crisis in
    Kosovo and has launched a massive campaign of ethnic cleansing that has
    displaced a large percentage of the population and been accompanied by
    an increasing number of atrocities. President Milosevic's brutal assault
    against the people of Kosovo and his complete disregard for the
    requirements of the international community pose a threat to regional
    peace and stability.

        President Milosevic's actions
    continue to pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the
    national security, foreign policy interests, and the economy of the
    United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary
    to maintain in force these emergency authorities beyond June 9, 1999.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    [[Page 856]]

    The White House,

    May 27, 1999.

    Note: The notice is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.