[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 2 (Monday, January 12, 2004)]
[Pages 23-24]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Notice--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Libya
January 5, 2004
On January 7, 1986, by Executive Order 12543, President Reagan
declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Libya. On
January 8, 1986, by Executive Order 12544, the President took additional
measures to block Libyan assets in the United States. The President has
transmitted a notice continuing this emergency to the Congress and the
Federal Register every year since 1986.
The crisis between the United States and Libya that led to the
declaration of a national emergency on January 7, 1986, has not been
fully resolved, although there have been some positive developments.
[[Page 24]]
On September 12, 2003, the United Nations Security Council adopted
Resolution 1506 (UNSCR 1506), ending the United Nations sanctions
against Libya. These U.N. sanctions were imposed in 1992 and 1993 as a
result of Libyan involvement in the terrorist bombings of Pan Am 103 in
1988 and UTA 772 in 1989, and included travel restrictions, an arms
embargo, and financial sanctions. The UNSCR 1506 lifted these sanctions
after Libya addressed the requirements of the relevant UNSC Resolutions,
including accepting responsibility for the actions of its officials in
the Pan Am 103 attack and arranging to compensate the families of the
victims. The United States abstained from voting on the lifting of U.N.
sanctions, and it made clear that it continued to have serious concerns
about other Libyan policies and actions, including Libya's pursuit of
weapons of mass destruction, Libya's role with respect to terrorism, and
Libya's poor human rights record.
On December 19, 2003, Prime Minister Blair and I announced
separately that Libya's leader, Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, had agreed to
eliminate all elements of Libya's chemical and nuclear weapons program,
declare all nuclear activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), accept international inspections to ensure Libya's complete
adherence to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and sign the IAEA
Additional Protocol, accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention,
eliminate ballistic missiles beyond 300 kilometer range, and immediately
and unconditionally allow inspectors from international organizations to
enter Libya. Libya's declaration of December 19, 2003, marks an
important and welcome step toward addressing the concerns of the world
community. As Libya takes tangible steps to address those concerns, the
United States will in turn take reciprocal tangible steps to recognize
Libya's progress. Libya's agreement marks the beginning of a process of
rejoining the community of nations, but its declaration of December 19,
2003, must be followed by verification of concrete steps.
Therefore, consistent with section 202(d) of the National
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national
emergency with respect to Libya. This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
George W. Bush
The White House,
January 5, 2004.
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 1:13 p.m., January 5,
2004]
Note: This notice was published in the Federal Register on January 6.