[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 20 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Pages 842-843]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency 
Protecting the Development Fund for Iraq and Certain Other Property in 
Which Iraq Has an Interest

May 19, 2005

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 to the Federal Register for publication. This notice 
states that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of 
May 22, 2003, as expanded in scope by Executive Order 13315 of August 
28, 2003, modified in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and 
further modified in Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004, is to 
continue in effect beyond May 22, 2005. The most recent notice 
continuing this emergency was published in the Federal Register on May 
21, 2004 (69 FR 29409).
    The threats of attachment or other judicial process against (i) the 
Development Fund for Iraq, (ii) Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products, 
and interests therein, and proceeds, obligations, or any financial 
instruments of any nature whatsoever arising from or related to the sale 
or marketing thereof, or (iii) any accounts, assets, investments, or any 
other property of any kind owned by, belonging to, or held by, on behalf 
of, or otherwise for the Central Bank of Iraq create obstacles to the 
orderly reconstruction of Iraq, the restoration and maintenance of peace 
and security in the country, and the development of political, 
administrative, and economic institutions in Iraq. Accordingly, these 
obstacles continue to pose an unusual

[[Page 843]]

and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of 
the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is 
necessary to continue the national emergency protecting the Development 
Fund for Iraq, certain other property in which Iraq has an interest, and 
the Central Bank of Iraq, and to maintain in force the sanctions to 
respond to this threat.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 19, 2005.