[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 30 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Page 1365]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Executive Order 
Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Importation of 
Certain Goods From Liberia

July 23, 2004

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

    Consistent with subsection 204(b) of the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) (IEEPA), I hereby report that I 
have issued an Executive Order (the ``order'') in which, in view of 
United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1521 of December 22, 2003, 
and 1532 of March 12, 2004, I declared a national emergency with respect 
to the threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by 
certain actions, policies, and circumstances with respect to Liberia. 
These actions, policies, and circumstances include the undermining of 
Liberia's transition to democracy and the orderly development of its 
political, administrative, and economic institutions and resources by 
former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other persons, in 
particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian resources and their 
removal from Liberia and secreting of Liberian funds and property. These 
actions, policies, and circumstances also include the lack of universal 
implementation throughout Liberia of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
signed on August 18, 2003, and the related ceasefire. Finally, these 
actions, policies, and circumstances include the link between the 
illicit trade in round logs and timber products and the proliferation of 
and trafficking in illegal arms, which perpetuate the Liberian conflict 
and fuel and exacerbate other conflicts throughout West Africa.
    To address this threat, I ordered that, except to the extent 
provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 
1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or regulations, orders, directives, or 
licenses that may be issued pursuant to the order, all property and 
interests in property of the persons listed in the annex to the order or 
any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, to meet the criteria set forth in section 
1(a)(ii) of the order, are blocked.
    I further ordered that, except to the extent provided in 
regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant 
to the order, the direct or indirect importation into the United States 
of any round log or timber product originating in Liberia is prohibited.
    I have enclosed a copy of the order, which became effective at 12:01 
a.m. eastern daylight time on July 23, 2004.
     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.