[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.