    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 23, 2004]
    [Pages 1415-1416]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Executive Order
    Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Importation of
    Certain Goods From Liberia
    July 23, 2004

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Consistent with subsection 204(b) of the International Emergency
    Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I
    have issued an Executive Order (the ``order'') in which, in view of
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1521 of December 22, 2003,
    and 1532 of March 12, 2004, I declared a national emergency with respect
    to the threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by
    certain actions, policies, and circumstances with respect to Liberia.
    These actions, policies, and circumstances include the undermining of
    Liberia's transition to democracy and the orderly development of its
    political, administrative, and economic institutions and resources by
    former Liberian President Charles Taylor and
    other persons, in particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian
    resources and their removal from Liberia and secreting of Liberian funds
    and property. These actions, policies, and circumstances also include
    the lack of universal implementation throughout Liberia of the
    Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on August 18, 2003, and the related
    ceasefire. Finally, these actions, policies, and circumstances include
    the link between the illicit trade in round logs and timber products and
    the proliferation of

    [[Page 1416]]

    and trafficking in illegal arms, which perpetuate the Liberian conflict
    and fuel and exacerbate other conflicts throughout West Africa.
        To address this threat, I ordered that, except to the extent
    provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C.
    1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or regulations, orders, directives, or
    licenses that may be issued pursuant to the order, all property and
    interests in property of the persons listed in the annex to the order or
    any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation
    with the Secretary of State, to meet the criteria set forth in section
    1(a)(ii) of the order, are blocked.
        I further ordered that, except to the extent provided in
    regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant
    to the order, the direct or indirect importation into the United States
    of any round log or timber product originating in Liberia is prohibited.
        I have enclosed a copy of the order, which became effective at 12:01
    a.m. eastern daylight time on July 23, 2004.
             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 Executive order of July 22 is listed in Appendix D at the
    end of this volume.