[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.