H.Doc.107-250 REPORT ON CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF PEACEKEEPING EFFORTS ...

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107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-249


 
PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SIERRA LEONE 
                              AND LIBERIA

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

 A SIX MONTH PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO 
SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA THAT WAS DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13194, OF 
JANUARY 18, 2001 AND EXPANDED IN SCOPE IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13213, OF MAY 
     22, 2001, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1641(c) AND 50 U.S.C. 1703(c)

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    July 23, 2002.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
     Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
    As required by section 401(c) of the National Emergencies 
Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c), and section 204(c) of the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(c), I am 
providing herewith a 6-month periodic report prepared by my 
Administration on the national emergency with respect to Sierra 
Leone and Liberia that was declared in Executive Order 13194 of 
January 18, 2001, and expanded in scope in Executive Order 
13213 of May 22, 2001.

                                                    George W. Bush.
    The White House, July 22, 2002.
Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Sierra Leone 
                              and Liberia

    This report to the Congress covers developments over the 
course of the past 6 months concerning the national emergency 
declared in Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001, in 
response to the actions and policies of the insurgent 
Revolutionary United Front (``RUF'') in Sierra Leone and 
pursuant to which the United States imposed a general ban on 
the direct and indirect importation of all rough diamonds from 
Sierra Leone to the United States, except those imports 
controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the 
Government of Sierra Leone. On May 22, 2001, I issued Executive 
Origin 13213, which expanded the scope of that national 
emergency to include actions of the Government of Liberia in 
support of the RUF and prohibited the importation of all rough 
diamonds from Liberia. This report is submitted pursuant to 
section 204(c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(c), and section 401(c) of the National 
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c).
    1. On February 6, 2002, the Department of the Treasury's 
Office of Foreign Assets Control (``OFAC'') issued the Rough 
Diamonds (Sierra Leone and Liberia) Sanctions Regulations, 31 
C.F.R. Part 591 (67 Fed. Reg. 5472), as an interim rule with 
request for public comment to implement Executive Orders 13194 
and 13213. A copy of the Regulations is attached.
    2. OFAC has disseminated details of this program to the 
financial and international trade communities by both 
electronic and conventional media. In the 6-month period since 
January 18, 2002, OFAC has not issued any specific licenses 
authorizing transactions otherwise prohibited by the Executive 
Orders and has neither assessed nor collected any civil 
monetary penalty for a violation of the Executive Orders. OFAC, 
in cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service, is closely 
monitoring potential violations of the general bans on the 
importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone which are not 
controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime and of all 
rough diamonds from Liberia.
    3. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 
6-month period from January 18, through July 17, 2002, that are 
directly attributable to the exercise of powers and authorities 
conferred by the declaration of a national emergency with 
respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia, are reported to be 
approximately $65,000, most of which represent wage and salary 
costs for Federal personnel. Personnel costs were largely 
centered in the Department of the Treasury (particularly in the 
Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Customs Service, the 
Office of the Under Secretary for Enforcement, and the Office 
of the General Counsel), the Department of State, and the 
Department of Commerce.
    4. For the first time in more than a decade, Sierra Leone 
is at peace. More than 46,000 RUF rebels and members of a pro-
government militia organization have disarmed. Multi-party 
elections were conducted peacefully on May 14, 2002. The United 
Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the world's largest U.N. 
peacekeeping force, continues to assist the Sierra Leone army 
to provide internal security. The Sierra Leone military are 
deployed to all vital locations and are securing the country's 
borders, with heavy British guidance and support. The police 
have a presence in all provincial capitals. Government 
authority and services are being extended, albeit slowly, 
throughout the country.
    Though there has been improvement, a significant portion of 
the mining and trading of diamonds remains outside Sierra 
Leonean government control. Liberian President Charles Taylor, 
who supported and sustained the RUF during its long campaign of 
terror in Sierra Leone, remains defiant of UN Security Council 
sanctions. He continues to trade in illicit diamonds smuggled 
from Sierra Leone, smuggle illegal arms, support RUF elements 
within Liberia, and pose a threat to the security and fragile 
stability of Sierra Leone. In June 2002, Liberian troops 
crossed into Sierra Leone to attack border villages. Until the 
threat to Sierra Leone from Charles Taylor is eliminated, and 
the mining of Sierra Leonean diamonds is brought under control, 
the threat to U.S. foreign policy remains and Executive Orders 
13194 and 13213 will remain in effect.
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