[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 39 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[Page 1836]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Belarus-United States Investment 
Treaty

September 23, 1994

To the Senate of the United States:

    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty Between the United States 
of America and the Republic of Belarus Concerning the Encouragement and 
Reciprocal Protection of Investment, with Annex, Protocol, and related 
exchange of letters, signed at Minsk on January 15, 1994. Also 
transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the 
Department of State with respect to this Treaty.
    This bilateral investment Treaty with Belarus is the sixth such 
Treaty between the United States and a newly independent state of the 
former Soviet Union. This Treaty will protect U.S. investors and assist 
the Republic of Belarus in its efforts to develop its economy by 
creating conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thus 
strengthening the development of the private sector.
    The Treaty is fully consistent with U.S. policy toward international 
and domestic investment. A specific tenet of U.S. policy, reflected in 
this Treaty, is that U.S. investment abroad and foreign investment in 
the United States should receive national treatment. Under this Treaty, 
the Parties also agree to international law standards for expropriation 
and compensation for expropriation; free transfer of funds associated 
with investments; freedom of investments from performance requirements; 
fair, equitable and most-favored-nation treatment; and the investor or 
investment's freedom to choose to resolve disputes with the host 
government through international arbitration.
    I recommend that the Senate consider this Treaty as soon as 
possible, and give its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty, 
with Annex, Protocol, and related exchange of letters, at an early date.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
September 23, 1994.

Note: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.