Text 3543, 112 rader
Skriven 2006-10-31 23:31:12 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0610313) for Tue, 2006 Oct 31
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Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 31, 2006

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate
October 27, 2006



Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Consistent with subsection 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b)(IEEPA), and section 301 of the National
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631 (NEA), I hereby report that I have issued
an Executive Order (the "order") blocking the property of certain persons
contributing to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In
that order, I declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States posed by
that conflict, as described below.

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the deadliest
conflict since World War II, with an estimated four million dead since
1996, many from hunger and disease resulting from the fighting. The United
Nations Security Council, in Resolution 1596 of April 18, 2005, Resolution
1649 of December 21, 2005, Resolution 1698 of July 31, 2006, and numerous
other resolutions, has expressed serious concern over the presence of armed
groups and militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which
perpetuate both the conflict in the country and a climate of insecurity
throughout the entire region.

The conflict has been marked by serious violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law by these militias and armed groups,
including the massacre of civilians, sexual violence against women and
girls, and the recruitment and use of children in the hostilities. The
perpetuation of the conflict undermines the progress and promise of the
Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, signed in 2002, which created a process that can
lead to the long-term restoration of peace and stability, national
reconciliation, and establishment of the rule of law.

The order blocks the property and interests in property in the United
States, or in the possession or control of United States persons, of the
persons listed in the Annex to the order, as well as of any person
determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the
Secretary of State
  þ to be a political or military leader of a foreign armed group operating
    in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that impedes the disarmament,
    repatriation, or resettlement of combatants;
  þ to be a political or military leader of a Congolese armed group that
    impedes the disarmament, demobilization, or reintegration of
    combatants;
  þ to be a political or military leader recruiting or using children in
    armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in violation of
    applicable international law;
  þ to have committed serious violations of international law involving the
    targeting of children in situations of armed conflict in the Democratic
    Republic of the Congo, including killing and maiming, sexual violence,
    abduction, and forced displacement; or
  þ to have directly or indirectly supplied, sold, or transferred to the
    Democratic Republic of the Congo, or been the recipient in the
    territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of, arms and related
    materiel, including military aircraft and equipment, or advice,
    training, or assistance, including financing and financial assistance,
    related to military activities.

The designation criteria will be applied consistent with applicable Federal
law, including, where appropriate, the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution.

The order also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation
with the Secretary of State, to designate for blocking any person
determined to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of,
the activities listed above or any person listed in or designated pursuant
to the order. I further authorized the Secretary of the Treasury, after
consultation with the Secretary of State, to designate for blocking any
person determined to be owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to
act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person listed in or
designated pursuant to the order. The Secretary of the Treasury, after
consultation with the Secretary of State, is also authorized to determine
that circumstances no longer warrant the blocking of the property and
interests in property of, or the prohibiting of transactions with, a person
listed in the Annex to the order.

I delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the
Secretary of State, the authority to take such actions, including the
promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to
the President by the IEEPA and the United Nations Participation Act, as may
be necessary to carry out the purposes of the order. All executive agencies
are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to
carry out the provisions of the order.

The order, a copy of which is enclosed, became effective at 12:01 a.m.
eastern standard time on October 30, 2006.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

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