    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 20, 1999]
    [Page 78]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 78]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Russia-United States
    Fisheries Agreement Extension
    January 20, 1999

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
    Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), I transmit herewith an
    Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the
    Government of the Russian Federation extending the Agreement on Mutual
    Fisheries Relations of May 31, 1988, with annex, as amended and extended
    (the ``Mutual Fisheries Agreement''). The present Agreement, which was
    effected by an exchange of notes in Moscow on July 28 and November 23,
    1998, extends the Mutual Fisheries Agreement to December 31, 2003.
        In light of the importance of our fisheries relationship with the
    Russian Federation, I urge that the Congress give favorable
    consideration to this Agreement at an early date.
            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.