[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 30 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Page 999]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Notice--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the 
Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor

July 19, 2007

    On July 22, 2004, by Executive Order 13348, I declared a national 
emergency and ordered related measures, including the blocking of 
property of certain persons associated with the former Liberian regime 
of Charles Taylor, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706). I took this action to deal with the 
unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United 
States constituted by the actions and policies of 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, which have undermined 
Liberia's transition to democracy and the orderly development of its 
political, administrative, and economic institutions and resources. I 
further noted that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on August 
18, 2003, and the related cease-fire had not yet been universally 
implemented throughout Liberia, and that the illicit trade in round logs 
and timber products was linked to the proliferation of and trafficking 
in illegal arms, which perpetuated the Liberian conflict and fueled and 
exacerbated other conflicts throughout West Africa.
    Today, Liberia is engaged in a peaceful transition to a democratic 
order under the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The 
regulations implementing Executive Order 13348, clarify that the subject 
of this national emergency has been and remains limited to the former 
Liberian regime of Charles Taylor and specified other persons and not 
the country, citizens, Government, or Central Bank of Liberia.
    Charles Taylor is today standing trial in The Hague by the Special 
Court for Sierra Leone. However, stability in Liberia is still fragile. 
The actions and policies of Charles Taylor and others have left a legacy 
of destruction that still has the potential to undermine Liberia's 
transformation and recovery.
    Because the actions and policies of these persons continue to pose 
an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United 
States, the national emergency declared on July 22, 2004, and the 
measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue 
in effect beyond July 22, 2007. Therefore, in accordance with section 
202(d) of the National Emergency Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am 
continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 
13348.
    This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and 
transmitted to the Congress.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 July 19, 2007.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:11 a.m., July 19, 
2007]

Note: This notice was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 20, and it was published in the Federal Register on July 20. This 
item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate issue.