[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

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            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.