    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [January 16, 2003]
    [Page 64]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 64]]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National
    Emergency With Respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia
    January 16, 2003

    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. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the
    enclosed notice, stating that the Sierra Leone and Liberia emergency is
    to continue in effect beyond January 18, 2003, to the Federal Register
    for publication. The most recent notice continuing this emergency was
    published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2002 (67 FR 2547).
        The national emergency declared with respect to Sierra Leone on
    January 18, 2001, as expanded on May 22, 2001, with respect to Liberia,
    has not been resolved. Some 1,500 Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
    soldiers have crossed into Liberia in the past year, where they remain
    under arms and continue to pose a threat to the Government of Sierra
    Leone. They use illicit trade in diamonds to sustain themselves in
    Liberia and for weapons purchases. The Government of Liberia continues
    to support these RUF elements and give them sanctuary.
        These actions and policies are hostile to U.S. interests and pose a
    continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the
    United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary
    to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Sierra Leone
    and Liberia and to maintain in force the sanctions imposed in response
    to the threat posed by the actions and policies of the RUF.
             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. The notice of January 16 is listed in Appendix D at the end of
    this volume.