    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 27, 2002]
    [Pages 908-909]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National
    Emergencies With Respect to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia
    and Montenegro)
    May 27, 2002

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        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. I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal
    Register for publication, stating that the national emergencies declared
    with respect to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and
    Montenegro) (the ``FRY (S&M)'') in 1992 and 1998, are to continue beyond
    May 30, 2002, and June 9, 2002, respectively. The most recent notice
    continuing these emergencies was published in the Federal Register on
    May 25, 2001.
        1992 National Emergency. The 1992 national emergency involved
    imposition of economic sanctions first on the FRY (S&M), and
    subsequently, on Bosnia-Serb forces in Bosnia (the ``Bosnian Serbs'').
    On December 27, 1995, President Clinton issued Presidential
    Determination 96-7, directing the Secretary of the Treasury, inter alia,
    to suspend the application of sanctions imposed on the FRY (S&M) 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, was an essential factor motivating Serbia and
    Montenegro's acceptance of a peace agreement initialed in Dayton on
    November 21, 1995, and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995 (hereinafter
    the ``Peace Agreement'').
        Sanctions against both the FRY (S&M) and the Bosnian Serbs were
    subsequently terminated in conjunction with United Nations Security
    Council Resolution 1074 of October 1, 1996. This termination, however,
    did not end a requirement that those blocked 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 United Nations
    Security Council Resolution 1022 met, this situation continues to pose
    an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
    policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have
    determined that it is necessary to continue the 1992 national emergency,
    and the measures adopted pursuant thereto, to respond to this threat.
        1998 National Emergency. The 1998 national emergency involved
    sanctions imposed on the FRY (S&M) in response to

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    its actions in Kosovo. On January 17, 2001, President Clinton issued
    Executive Order 13192 lifting and modifying, with respect to future
    transactions, most of the economic sanctions imposed against the FRY
    (S&M) with regard to the situation in Kosovo. At the same time, the
    order imposes restrictions on transactions with certain persons
    described in section 1(a) of the order, and persons under open
    indictment for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the
    Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It also provides for the continued blocking of
    property or interests in property blocked prior to the order's effective
    date due to the need to address claims and encumbrances involving such
    property.
        Because the crisis with respect to the situation in Kosovo, and with
    respect to Slobodan Milosevic, his close associates and supporters and
    persons under open indictment for war crimes by the ICTY has not been
    resolved, and because the status of all previously blocked property has
    yet to be resolved, this situation continues to pose an unusual and
    extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
    United States. For these reasons, I have determined that the emergency
    declared with respect to Kosovo, and the measures adopted pursuant
    thereto, to respond to this threat must continue beyond June 9, 2002.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    May 29. The notice of May 27 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this
    volume.