[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 2 (Monday, January 13, 2003)]
[Pages 28-29]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National 
Emergency With Respect to Libya

January 2, 2003

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

    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 Libya emergency is to continue in 
effect beyond January 7, 2003, to the Federal Register for publication. 
The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the 
Federal Register on January 4, 2002 (67 FR 637).
    The crisis between the United States and Libya that led to the 
declaration on January 7, 1986, of a national emergency has not been 
resolved. Despite the United Nations Security Council's suspension of 
U.N. sanctions against Libya upon the Libyan government's hand-over of 
the Pan Am 103 bombing suspects, Libya has not yet complied with its 
obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolutions 731 (1992), 748 
(1992), and 883 (1993), which include Libya's obligation to accept 
responsibility for the actions of its officials and pay compensation.

[[Page 29]]

    For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to 
continue the national emergency declared with respect to Libya and 
maintain in force the comprehensive sanctions against Libya to respond 
to this threat.
     Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the 
Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 3. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.