[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 27 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Page 1137]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on the Extension 
of Normal Trade Relations Status for Certain Former Eastern Bloc States

July 3, 2002

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

    Pursuant to sections 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974, I am 
submitting an updated report to the Congress prepared by my 
Administration on the emigration laws and policies of Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, 
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
    On September 21, 1994, President Clinton determined and reported to 
the Congress that the Russian Federation was not in violation of 
paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subsection 402(a) of the Trade Act of 
1974, or paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subsection 409(a) of that Act. 
On June 3, 1997, he also determined and reported to the Congress that 
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine were not in violation 
of the same provisions, and 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.
    On June 29, 2000, pursuant to section 302(b) of Public Law 106-200, 
President Clinton determined that title IV of the 1974 Trade Act should 
no longer apply to Kyrgyzstan, and on December 29, 2000, he made a 
similar determination with respect to Georgia pursuant to section 3002 
of Public Law 106-476.
    The attached report indicates continued compliance by Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, 
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan with international standards 
concerning freedom of emigration.
     Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush

Note: Letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the Senate. An 
original was not available for verification of the content of this 
letter.