[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 45 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Pages 1728-1729]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress on Sudan

November 3, 1997

To the Congress of the United States:

    Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b), I hereby report to the Congress that I 
have exercised my statutory authority to declare that the policies of 
the Government of Sudan constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat 
to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and to 
declare a national emergency to deal with the threat.
    Pursuant to this legal authority, I have blocked Sudanese 
governmental assets in the United States. I have also prohibited certain 
transactions, including the following: (1) the importation into the 
United States of any goods or services of Sudanese origin, other than 
information or informational materials; (2) the exportation or 
reexportation to Sudan of any nonexempt goods, technology, or services 
from the United States; (3) the facilitation by any United States person 
of the exportation or reexportation of goods, technology, or services 
from Sudan to any destination, or to Sudan from any destination; (4) the 
performance by any United States person of any contract, including a 
financing contract, in support of an industrial, commercial, public 
utility, or governmental project in Sudan; (5) the grant or extension of 
credits or loans by any United States person to the Government of Sudan; 
and (6) any transaction by any United States person relating to 
transportation of cargo to, from, or through Sudan, or by Sudanese 
vessel or aircraft.
    We intend to license only those activities that serve U.S. 
interests. Transactions necessary to conduct the official business of 
the United States Government and the United Nations are exempted. This 
order and subsequent licenses will allow humanitarian, diplomatic, and 
journalistic activities to continue. Other activities may be considered 
for licensing on a case-by-case basis based on their merits. We will 
continue to permit regulated transfers of fees and stipends from the 
Government of Sudan to Sudanese students in the United States. Among the 
other activities

[[Page 1729]]

we may consider licensing are those permitting American citizens 
resident in Sudan to make payments for their routine living expenses, 
including taxes and utilities; the importation of certain products 
unavailable from other sources, such as gum arabic; and products to 
ensure civilian aircraft safety.
    I have decided to impose comprehensive sanctions in response to the 
Sudanese government's continued provision of sanctuary and support for 
terrorist groups, its sponsorship of regional insurgencies that threaten 
neighboring governments friendly to the United States, its continued 
prosecution of a devastating civil war, and its abysmal human rights 
record that includes the denial of religious freedom and inadequate 
steps to eradicate slavery in the country.
    The behavior of the Sudanese government directly threatens stability 
in the region and poses a direct threat to the people and interests of 
the United States. Only a fundamental change in Sudan's policies will 
enhance the peace and security of people in the United States, Sudan, 
and around the world. My Administration will continue to work with the 
Congress to develop the most effective policies in this regard.
    The above-described measures, many of which reflect congressional 
concerns, will immediately demonstrate to the Sudanese government the 
seriousness of our concern with the situation in that country. It is 
particularly important to increase pressure on Sudan to engage seriously 
during the current round of negotiations taking place now in Nairobi. 
The sanctions will also deprive the Sudanese government of the material 
and financial benefits of conducting trade and financial transactions 
with the United States.
    The prohibitions set forth in this order shall be effective as of 
12:01 a.m., eastern standard time, November 4, 1997, and shall be 
transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register. The 
Executive order provides 30 days in which to complete trade transactions 
with Sudan covered by contracts that predate the order and the 
performance of preexisting financing agreements for those trade 
initiatives.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 3, 1997.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
November 4.