[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.