[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 37 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[Pages 2052-2053]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Azerbaijan-United States 
Investment Treaty With Documentation

September 12, 2000

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 Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of 
Azerbaijan Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of 
Investment, with Annex, signed at Washington on August 1, 1997, together 
with an amendment to the Treaty set forth in an exchange of diplomatic 
notes dated August 8, 2000, and August 25, 2000. I transmit also, for 
the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State 
with respect to this Treaty.
    The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Azerbaijan is the fourth 
such treaty signed between the United States and a Transcaucasian or 
Central Asian country. The Treaty will protect U.S. investment and 
assist Azerbaijan in its efforts to develop its economy by creating 
conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thereby 
strengthening the development of its private sector.
    The Treaty furthers the objectives of 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

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customary international law standards for expropriation. The Treaty 
includes detailed provisions regarding the computation and payment of 
prompt, adequate, and effective compensation for expropriation; free 
transfer of funds related to investments; freedom of investments from 
specified performance requirements; fair, equitable, and most-favored-
nation treatment; and the investor'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 
at an early date.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 September 12, 2000.