Text 3271, 133 rader
Skriven 2006-09-27 23:31:34 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0609271) for Wed, 2006 Sep 27
====================================================

===========================================================================
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 27, 2006

Memorandum for the Secretary of State



SUBJECT: Presidential Determination with Respect to Foreign Governments'
Efforts Regarding Trafficking in Persons

Consistent with section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (Division A of Public Law 106-386), as amended, (the "Act"), I hereby:
  þ Make the determination provided in section 110(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act,
    with respect to Burma, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, not to provide certain
    funding for those countries' governments for fiscal year 2007, until
    such government complies with the minimum standards or makes
    significant efforts to bring itself into compliance, as may be
    determined by the Secretary of State in a report to the Congress
    pursuant to section 110(b) of the Act;
  þ Make the determination provided in section 110(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act,
    with respect to Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran,
    and Syria, not to provide certain funding for those countries'
    governments for fiscal year 2007, until such government complies with
    the minimum standards or makes significant efforts to bring itself into
    compliance, as may be determined by the Secretary of State in a report
    to the Congress pursuant to section 110(b) of the Act;
  þ Make the determination provided in section 110(d)(3) of the Act,
    concerning the determinations of the Secretary of State with respect to
    Belize and Laos;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Iran, that funding for educational and cultural exchange programs
    described in section 110(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act that include
    educators, municipal leaders, religious leaders, journalists,
    economists, or sports or cultural figures would promote the purposes of
    the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Saudi Arabia, that provision to Saudi Arabia of all programs,
    projects, or activities of assistance described in sections
    110(d)(1)(A)(i) and 110(d)(1)(B) of the Act would promote the purposes
    of the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the United
    States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Sudan, that provision to Sudan of all programs, projects, or
    activities of assistance described in sections 110(d)(1)(A)(i) and
    110(d)(1)(B) of the Act would promote the purposes of the Act or is
    otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Syria, that funding for educational and cultural exchange programs
    described in section 110(d)(1) (A)(ii) of the Act that include
    educators, municipal leaders, religious leaders, journalists,
    economists, or sports or cultural figures would promote the purposes of
    the Act or is otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Uzbekistan, that provision to Uzbekistan of all programs, projects,
    or activities of assistance described in sections 110(d)(1)(A)(i) and
    110(d)(1)(B) of the Act would promote the purposes of the Act or is
    otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Venezuela, for all programs, projects, or activities of assistance
    for victims of trafficking in persons or to combat such trafficking, or
    for strengthening the democratic process, including strengthening
    political parties and supporting electoral observation and monitoring
    and related programs, or for public diplomacy, that provision to
    Venezuela of the assistance described in sections 110(d) (1)(A)(i) and
    110(d)(1)(B) of the Act for such programs, projects, or activities
    would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national
    interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect
    to Zimbabwe, for all programs, projects, or activities of assistance
    for victims of trafficking in persons or to combat such trafficking,
    for the promotion of health or good governance, or which would have a
    significant adverse effect on vulnerable populations if suspended, that
    provision to Zimbabwe of the assistance described in sections
    110(d)(1)(A)(i) and 110(d)(1)(B) of the Act for such programs,
    projects, or activities would promote the purposes of the Act or is
    otherwise in the national interest of the United States;
  þ Determine, consistent with section 110(d)(4) of the Act, that
    assistance to Venezuela or Zimbabwe described in section 110(d)(1)(B)
    of the Act that:

    (1) is a regional program, project, or activity under which the total
    benefit to Venezuela or Zimbabwe does not exceed 10 percent of the
    total value of such program, project, or activity; or

    (2) has as its primary objective the addressing of basic human needs,
    as defined by the Department of the Treasury with respect to other,
    existing legislative mandates concerning U.S. participation in the
    multilateral development banks; or

    (3) is complementary to or has similar policy objectives to programs
    being implemented bilaterally by the United States Government; or

    (4) has as its primary objective the improvement of the country's legal
    system, including in areas that impact the country's ability to
    investigate and prosecute trafficking cases or otherwise improve
    implementation of a country's anti-trafficking policy, regulations, or
    legislation; or

    (5) in engaging a government, international organization, or civil
    society organization, and that seeks as its primary objective(s) to:
    (a) increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking in
    persons crimes; (b) increase protection for victims of trafficking
    through better screening, identification, rescue/removal, aftercare
    (shelter, counseling) training and reintegration; or (c) expand
    prevention efforts through education and awareness campaigns
    highlighting the dangers of trafficking or training and economic
    empowerment of populations clearly at risk of falling victim to
    trafficking

would promote the purposes of the Act or is otherwise in the national
interest of the United States.

The certification required by section 110(e) of the Act is provided
herewith.

You are hereby authorized and directed to submit this determination to the
Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060927-1.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)