For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 29, 2002
Continuation of Emergency Notice for Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
In accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act
(50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency
declared on May 30, 1992, with respect to the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) (the "FRY (S&M;)"), as expanded on
October 25, 1994, in response to the actions and policies of the
Bosnian Serbs. In addition, I am continuing for 1 year the national
emergency declared on June 9, 1998, with respect to the FRY (S&M;)'s
policies and actions in Kosovo. This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
On May 30, 1992, by Executive Order 12808, President Bush declared
a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat
to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
States constituted by the actions and policies of the Governments of
Serbia and Montenegro. Under this emergency, President Bush first
blocked all property and interests in property of the Governments of
the FRY (S&M;), Serbia, and Montenegro and subsequently prohibited trade
and other transactions with the FRY (S&M;).
On October 25, 1994, President Clinton expanded the scope of the
national emergency by issuing Executive Order 12934 to address the
unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States posed by the actions and
policies of the Bosnian Serb forces and the authorities in the
territory that they controlled within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On December 27, 1995, President Clinton issued Presidential
Determination 96-7, directing the Secretary of the Treasury, inter
alia, to suspend the application of sanctions imposed on the FRY (S&M;)
pursuant to the above-referenced Executive Orders and to continue to
block property previously blocked until provision is made to address
claims or encumbrances, including the claims of the other successor
states of the former Yugoslavia. This sanctions relief, in conformity
with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1022 of November 22,
1995, was an essential factor motivating the FRY (S&M;)'s acceptance of
a peace agreement initialed by the parties in Dayton on November 21,
1995, and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995 (hereinafter the "Peace
Agreement"). Sanctions against both the FRY (S&M;) and the Bosnian Serb
forces were terminated in conjunction with United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1074 of October 1, 1996. This termination, however,
did not end a requirement that those blocked funds and assets that are
subject to claims or encumbrances remain blocked, until unblocked in
accordance with applicable law.
Until the status of all remaining blocked property is resolved, the
Peace Agreement implemented, and the terms of the United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1022 met, the national emergency declared
on May 30, 1992, and the measures adopted pursuant thereto to deal with
that emergency, must continue beyond May 30, 2002.
On June 9, 1998, by Executive Order 13088, President Clinton found
that the actions and policies of the FRY (S&M;) and the Republic of
Serbia with respect to Kosovo, constituted an unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United
States. President Clinton therefore declared a national emergency to
deal with that threat.
On January 17, 2001, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13192
amending Executive Order 13088 to lift and modify, with respect to
future transactions, most of the economic sanctions imposed against the
FRY (S&M;). At the same time, Executive Order 13192 imposes
restrictions on transactions with certain persons described in section
1(a) of the order, namely persons under open indictment for war crimes
by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY). It also provides for the continued blocking of property or
interests in property blocked prior to the order's effective date due
to the need to address claims or encumbrances involving such property.
Because the crisis with respect to the situation in Kosovo and with
respect to Slobodan Milosevic, his close associates and supporters and
persons under open indictment for war crimes by the ICTY has not been
resolved, and because the status of all previously blocked property has
yet to be resolved, I have determined that the national emergency
declared on June 9, 1998, and the measures adopted pursuant thereto to
deal with that emergency, must continue beyond June 9, 2002.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 27, 2002.
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