[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 2 (Monday, January 17, 2000)]
[Page 29]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on the Emigration 
Policies and Trade 

Status of Certain Former Eastern Bloc States

January 7, 2000

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    On September 21, 1994, I determined and reported to the Congress 
that the Russian Federation was not in violation of paragraph (1), (2), 
or (3) of subsection 402(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, or paragraph (1), 
(2), or (3) of subsection 409(a) of that Act. On June 3, 1997, I 
determined and reported to the Congress that Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine were not in violation of the same 
provisions, and I made an identical determination on December 5, 1997, 
with respect to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and 
Uzbekistan. These actions allowed for the continuation of normal trade 
relations for these countries and certain other activities without the 
requirement of an annual waiver.
    As required by law, I am submitting an updated report to the 
Congress concerning the emigration laws and policies of Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian 
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The 
report indicates continued compliance of these countries with 
international standards concerning freedom of emigration.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate. 
This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on January 
10.