    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [May 16, 2003]
    [Page 501]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With
    Respect to Burma
    May 16, 2003

    To the Congress of the United States:
        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, stating that the
    Burma emergency is to continue beyond May 20, 2003, to the Federal
    Register for publication. The most recent notice continuing this
    emergency was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2002.
        The crisis between the United States and Burma that led to the
    declaration of a national emergency on May 20, 1997, has not been
    resolved. The actions and policies of the Government of Burma, including
    its policies of committing large-scale repression of the democratic
    opposition in Burma, are hostile to U.S. interests and pose a continuing
    unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign
    policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it
    is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma
    and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this
    threat.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     May 16, 2003.

    Note: The notice is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.