[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 14 (Monday, April 10, 1995)]
[Pages 556-557]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum Announcing the Charter of the Special Adviser for Assistance 
to the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union

April 4, 1995

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Charter for Special Adviser to the President and to the 
Secretary of State on Assistance to the New Independent States (NIS) of 
the Former Soviet Union and Coordinator of NIS Assistance

    The United States has a vital stake in the success of reform in the 
New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. Ensuring 
effective support for the transformation underway in the NIS remains 
among the highest foreign policy priorities of my Administration. Over 
the past two years, bilateral assistance programs under the FREEDOM 
Support Act have played an important role in promoting democratic and 
economic reforms in the NIS, while projects funded through the 
Cooperative Threat Reduction (Nunn-Lugar) Act have promoted our 
denuclearization and nonproliferation policies. Despite remarkable 
progress, however, the success of reforms across the former Soviet Union 
is by no means assured. This fact, combined with budget realities that 
constrain the level of our financial aid to the region, make it 
imperative that our assistance be as targeted, relevant, and efficient 
as possible.
    To assure maximum coordination of efforts to promote such reforms 
and policies within the Executive branch, I hereby designate Richard L. 
Morningstar as Special Adviser to the President and to the Secretary of 
State on Assistance to the New Independent States of the former Soviet 
Union and Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to the NIS in accordance with 
Section 102 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Mr. Morningstar will also act as 
Chairman of the previously established interagency NIS Assistance 
Coordination Group. In fulfilling these duties, Mr. Morningstar will 
preside over the allocation of U.S. assistance resources and direct and 
coordinate the interagency process on the development, funding, and 
implementation of all U.S. Government bilateral assistance and trade and 
investment programs related to the NIS.
    To ensure that Mr. Morningstar will be able to carry out his 
responsibilities effectively, the Departments of Defense, Treasury, 
Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Energy, 
the Agency for International Development, United States Information 
Agency, Peace Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Trade and Development Agency, 
and Export-Import Bank, and any other Executive departments and agencies 
with activities related to NIS bilateral assistance and export and 
investment activities are directed, to the extent permitted by law, to 
bring all programs and budget plans for such assistance and activities 
to Mr. Morningstar for review before submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget and before implementation. Mr. Morningstar shall 
be responsible for ensuring that all such plans are consistent with 
Administration priorities and policies. Heads of such entities shall 
designate an official at the level of Assistant Secretary or its 
equivalent to assist Mr. Morningstar in accomplishing the objectives of 
this mandate.
    Mr. Morningstar will work with the U.S. Ambassadors to the NIS to 
strengthen coordination mechanisms in the field and increase the 
effectiveness of our assistance and

[[Page 557]]

export and investment programs on the ground. Assistance activities in 
the field will be coordinated by Ambassadors or their designates.
    Mr. Morningstar will serve as a member of and consult with the Gore-
Chernomyrdin Commission and the Policy Steering Group for the New 
Independent States to ensure that U.S. assistance and related activities 
are consistent with and support broader foreign policy objectives.
    In carrying out these duties, Mr. Morningstar will report to me 
through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and 
the Secretary of State, with policy guidance from the Policy Steering 
Group on the New Independent States.
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on April 6.