For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 27, 2001
Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Responsible for Actions that Threaten International Stabilization Efforts
in the Western Balkans, and Persons Responsible for Wartime Atrocities in that Region
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The United States has a vital interest in assuring peace and stability
in Europe. In the Western Balkans, the United States is engaged, together
with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, United Nations missions, the European
Union, and other international organizations in an effort to achieve peace,
stability, reconciliation, and democratic development and to facilitate the
region's integration into the European mainstream. The United States views
full implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia and United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 in Kosovo as critical to these
efforts.
In furtherance of these objectives, the United States has provided
military, diplomatic, financial, and logistical support to international
institutions established in the region and to civil and security
authorities. The United States has a direct and significant interest in
the success of such initiatives and in the safety of personnel involved in
them, including numerous United States military and Government officials.
In light of these objectives, I have determined that it is in the
interests of the United States to restrict the entry into the United States
of persons responsible for actions that threaten international
stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans region, and of persons
responsible for wartime atrocities committed in that region since 1991.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the
United States, including section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act of 1952, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and
nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 1
of this proclamation would, except as provided for in sections 2 and 3 of
this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I
therefore hereby proclaim that:
Section 1. The immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United
States of the following persons is hereby suspended:
(a) Persons who, through violent or other acts: (i) seek to obstruct
the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords (the "Dayton Agreements") or
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of June 10, 1999; (ii) seek
to undermine the
authority or security of the United Nations Interim Adminis-tration Mission
in Kosovo, the international security presence in Kosovo known as the
Kosovo Force, the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the international security presence in Bosnia known as the
Stabilization Force, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, or
other international organizations and entities present in the region
pursuant to the Dayton Agreement or United Nations Security Council
resolutions, including but not limited to Resolutions 827, 1031, and 1244;
(iii) seek to intimidate or to prevent displaced persons or refugees from
returning to their places of residence in any area or state of the Western
Balkans region; or (iv) otherwise seek to undermine peace, stability,
reconciliation, or democratic development in any area or state of the
Western Balkans region.
(b) Persons who are responsible for directing, planning, or carrying
out wartime atrocities, including but not limited to acts in furtherance of
"ethnic cleansing," committed in any area or state of the Western Balkans
region since 1991.
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply with respect
to any person otherwise covered by section 1 where entry of such person
would not be contrary to the interest of the United States.
Sec. 3. Persons covered by sections 1 and 2 of this proclamation
shall be identified by the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee,
in his or her sole discretion, pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary
may establish under section 5 of this proclamation.
Sec. 4. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate
from United States Government obligations under applicable international
agreements.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of State shall have responsibility for
implementing this proclamation pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary
may establish.
Sec. 6. This proclamation is effective immediately and shall remain
in effect until such time as the Secretary of State determines that it is
no longer necessary and should be terminated, either in whole or in part.
The Secretary of State shall advise the Attorney General of such
determination, which shall become effective upon publication in the Federal
Register.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day
of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
GEORGE
W. BUSH
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