    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 25, 2001]
    [Pages 911-912]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Charter for Coordinator of United States Assistance to
    Europe and Eurasia
    July 25, 2001

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Charter for Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and
    Eurasia

        The United States has a vital stake in a stable and secure Europe
    and Eurasia. Maintaining effective support for the expanding free market
    and promoting the democratic transformation of the formerly Communist
    societies of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union
    remain among our highest foreign policy priorities. Over the past
    decade, bilateral assistance programs under the ``Support for East
    European Democracies (SEED) Act'' of 1989 and the ``Freedom for Russia
    and Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets (FREEDOM) Support
    Act'' of 1992 have played an important role in advancing democratic and
    economic reforms in the formerly Communist countries of the region.
    Other projects funded through legislation, such as the Cooperative
    Threat Reduction Act of 1993, have advanced our denuclearization and
    nonproliferation objectives.
        Despite remarkable progress in many countries, the ultimate success
    of reform efforts across the region is by no means assured. This fact,
    combined with budget realities that constrain the level of funding for
    our bilateral assistance to the region, makes it imperative that our
    assistance be as targeted, relevant, and efficient as possible.
        To achieve maximum coordination of efforts that promote such reforms
    and policies within the executive branch, I hereby designate Ambassador
    William B. Taylor, Jr., to serve as
    the SEED Program Coordinator, in accordance with section 601 of the SEED
    Act, and to continue serving as Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to the
    Newly Independent States (NIS), in accordance with section 102 of the
    FREEDOM Support Act.
        Ambassador Taylor's
    responsibilities will include:

            1.   designing an overall assistance strategy for each SEED and
                FREEDOM Support Act country;
            2.   overseeing program and policy coordination among United
                States Government agencies;
            3.   pursuing coordination with other countries and
                international organizations;
            4.   ensuring proper management and oversight by agencies
                responsible for

    [[Page 912]]

                implementation of assistance programs; and
            5.   resolving policy and program disputes among United States
                Government agencies.

        Ambassador Taylor will also act
    as Chairman of the Assistance Working Group of the interagency Europe-
    Eurasia Policy Coordinating Committee.
        In fulfilling these duties, Ambassador Taylor will preside over the allocation of U.S. assistance
    resources. He will direct and coordinate the interagency process of
    development, funding, and implementation of all United States Government
    bilateral assistance, trade, and investment programs related to the SEED
    and FREEDOM Support Act countries.
        To enable Ambassador Taylor to
    carry out these responsibilities effectively, the Departments of
    Defense, the Treasury, Justice, State, Commerce, Agriculture, Health and
    Human Services, and Energy; the Agency for International Development,
    U.S. Customs Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement
    Agency, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Peace Corps,
    Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Overseas Private
    Investment Corporation, Trade and Development Agency, Export-Import
    Bank, and all other executive departments and agencies with activities
    related to bilateral assistance and export and investment activities in
    the SEED and FREEDOM Support Act countries are directed, to the extent
    permitted by law, to bring all programs and budget plans for such
    assistance and activities to Ambassador Taylor for review before
    submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and before
    implementation. Ambassador Taylor shall ensure that all such plans are
    consistent with Administration priorities and policies. Heads of such
    entities shall designate an appropriate official to assist Ambassador
    Taylor in accomplishing the objectives of this mandate.
        Ambassador Taylor will work with
    the U.S. Ambassadors to the SEED and FREEDOM Support Act countries to
    strengthen coordination mechanisms in the field and increase the
    effectiveness of our assistance and export and investment programs on
    the ground. Assistance activities in the field will be coordinated by
    Ambassadors or their designate.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on July 26.