[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 21 (Monday, May 28, 2001)]
[Pages 794-795]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13213--Additional Measures With Respect to Prohibiting 
the Importation of Rough Diamonds From Sierra Leone

May 22, 2001

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the 
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 5 of the 
United Nations Participation Act of 1945, as amended (22 U.S.C. 287c) 
(UNPA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in view of 
the national emergency described and declared in Executive Order 13194 
of January 18, 2001, and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 
1306 of July 5, 2000, and 1343 of March 7, 2001,
    I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, take 
note that in Executive Order 13194, the President responded to, among 
other things, the insurgent Revolutionary United Front's (RUF) illicit 
trade in diamonds to fund its operations in the civil war in Sierra 
Leone by declaring a national emergency and, consistent with United 
Nations Security Council Resolution 1306, by prohibiting the importation 
into the United States of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone except 
for those importations controlled through the Certificate of Origin 
regime of the Government of Sierra Leone. United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 1343 takes note that the bulk of RUF diamonds leaves 
Sierra Leone through Liberia and that such illicit trade cannot be 
conducted without the permission and involvement of Liberian government 
officials at the highest levels; determines that the active support 
provided by the Government of Liberia for the RUF and other armed rebel 
groups in neighboring countries constitutes a threat to international 
peace and security in the region; and decides that all states shall take 
the necessary measures to prevent the importation of all rough diamonds 
from Liberia, whether or not such diamonds originated in Liberia. The 
Government of Liberia's complicity in the RUF's illicit trade in 
diamonds and its other forms of support for the RUF are direct 
challenges to United States foreign policy objectives in the region as 
well as to the rule-based international order that is crucial to the 
peace and prosperity of the United States. Therefore, I find these 
actions by the Government of Liberia contribute to the unusual and 
extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States 
described in Executive Order 13194 with respect to which the President 
declared a national emergency. In order to deal with that threat and to 
ensure further that the direct or indirect importation into the United 
States of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone will not contribute financial 
support to further aggressive actions

[[Page 795]]

by the RUF or to the RUF's procurement of weapons; to implement United 
Nations Security Council Resolution 1343; and to counteract, among other 
things, the Government of Liberia's facilitation of and participation in 
the RUF's illicit trade in diamonds through Liberia, I hereby order the 
following additional measures be taken with respect to prohibiting the 
importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone:
    Section 1. Except to the extent provided in regulations, orders, 
directives, or licenses issued pursuant to this order, and 
notwithstanding the existence of any rights or obligations conferred or 
imposed by any international agreement or any contract entered into or 
any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order, 
the direct or indirect importation into the United States of all rough 
diamonds from Liberia, whether or not such diamonds originated in 
Liberia, on or after the effective date of this order is prohibited.
    Sec. 2. Any transaction by a United States person or within the 
United States that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or 
avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in 
this order is prohibited. Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the 
prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
    Sec. 3. The definitions contained in section 4 of Executive Order 
13194 apply to the terms used in this order.
    Sec. 4. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the 
Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including 
the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers 
granted to the President by IEEPA and UNPA, as may be necessary to carry 
out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may 
redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the 
United States Government. All agencies of the United States Government 
are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their 
authority to carry out the provisions of this order, including 
modification, suspension, or termination of licenses or authorizations 
in effect as of the date of this order.
    Sec. 5. This order is not intended to create, nor does it create, 
any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable 
at law by a party against the United States, its agencies, officers, or 
any other person.
    Sec. 6. (a) This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight 
time on May 23, 2001.
    (b) This order shall be transmitted to the Congress and published in 
the Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 22, 2001.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:03 p.m., May 23, 
2001]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 23, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
24.