[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 39 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Page 1609]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With 
Respect to UNITA

September 23, 2002

To the Congress of the United States:

    Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1622(d) 
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, 
prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President 
publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice 
stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the 
anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the 
enclosed notice, stating that the emergency declared with respect to the 
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) is to 
continue in effect beyond September 26, 2002, to the Federal Register 
for publication. The most recent notice continuing this emergency was 
published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 
49084).
    The circumstances that led to the declaration on September 26, 1993, 
of a national emergency have not been resolved. The actions and policies 
of UNITA pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the 
foreign policy of the United States. United Nations Security Council 
Resolutions 864 (1993), 1127 (1997), and 1173 (1998) continue to oblige 
all member states to maintain sanctions. Discontinuation of the 
sanctions would have a prejudicial effect on the prospects for peace in 
Angola. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to 
maintain in force the broad authorities necessary to apply economic 
pressure on UNITA to reduce its ability to pursue its military 
operations.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 September 23, 2002.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
September 24.