    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 44 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
    [Page 1561]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
     Message to the Congress Transmitting Proposed Legislation for the
    Implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of
    Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the Suppression
    of the Financing of Terrorism

     October 25, 2001

     To the Congress of the United States:

         Enclosed for the consideration of the Congress is a legislative
    proposal to implement the International Convention for the Suppression
    of Terrorist Bombings and the International Convention for the
    Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Also enclosed is a detailed
    explanation of the bill's provisions.
         Title I of the bill is entitled the ``Terrorist Bombings Convention
    Implementation Act of 2001.'' It would implement the International
    Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, which was signed
    by the United States on January 12, 1998, and which was transmitted to
    the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification on September 8,
    1999. In essence, the Convention imposes binding legal obligations upon
    State Parties either to submit for prosecution or to extradite any
    person within their jurisdiction who unlawfully and intentionally
    delivers, places, discharges, or detonates an explosive or other lethal
    device in, into, or against a place of public use, a State or government
    facility, a public transportation system, or an infrastructure facility.
    A State Party is subject to these obligations without regard to the
    place where the alleged act covered by the Convention took place.
    Twenty-eight States are currently party to the Convention, which entered
    into force internationally on May 23, 2001.
         Title II of the bill is entitled the ``Suppression of the Financing
    of Terrorism Convention Implementation Act of 2001.'' It would implement
    the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of
    Terrorism, which was signed by the United States on January 10, 2000,
    and which was transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to
    ratification on October 12, 2000. The Convention imposes binding legal
    obligations upon State Parties either to submit for prosecution or to
    extradite any person within their jurisdiction who unlawfully and
    wilfully provides or collects funds with the intention that they should
    be used to carry out various terrorist activities. A State Party is
    subject to these obligations without regard to the place where the
    alleged act covered by the Convention took place. The Convention is not
    yet in force internationally, but will enter into force on the thirtieth
    day following the date of the deposit of the twenty-second instrument of
    ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with the Secretary
    General of the United Nations.
         I urge the prompt and favorable consideration of this proposal.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     October 25, 2001.

      Note:  This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on October 26. This item was not received in time for publication in the
    appropriate issue. An original was not available for verification of the
    content of this message.