    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 6 (Monday, February 18, 2008)]
    [Pages 188-189]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Message to the Congress Transmitting an Executive Order Blocking
    Property of Additional Persons in Connection With the National Emergency
    With Respect to Syria

    February 13, 2008

    To the Congress of the United States:

        Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as
    amended (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), I hereby report that I have
    issued an Executive Order taking additional steps with respect to the
    Government of Syria's continued engagement in certain conduct that
    formed the basis for the national emergency declared in Executive Order
    13338 of May 11, 2004, including but not limited to its efforts to
    undermine the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.
        This order will block the property and interests in property of
    persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation
    with the Secretary of State, to be responsible for, to have engaged in,
    to have facilitated, or to have secured improper advantage as a result
    of, public corruption by senior officials within the Government of
    Syria. The order also revises a provision in Executive Order 13338 to
    block the property and interests in property of persons determined by

    [[Page 189]]

    the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of
    State, to be responsible for or otherwise significantly contributing to
    actions or decisions of the Government of Syria that have the purpose or
    effect of undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq or of allowing the use
    of Syrian territory or facilities to undermine efforts to stabilize
    Iraq.
        I delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to take
    such actions, after consultation with the Secretary of State, including
    the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers
    granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the
    purposes of my order.
        I wish to emphasize, as well, my ongoing concern over the
    destabilizing role Syria continues to play in Lebanon, including its
    efforts to obstruct, through intimidation and violence, Lebanon's
    democratic processes.
        I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     February 13, 2008.