[House Document 107-166] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-166 PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting 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)January 23, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, January 15, 2002. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: 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 transmit herewith a 6-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. Sincerely, George W. Bush. Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia I hereby report to the Congress on 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 Order 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 based upon information provided 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. The Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (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 July 18, 2001, 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. 2. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 6-month period from July 18, 2001 through January 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 $100,000, 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. 3. The situation in Sierra Leone has improved considerably since my last report. While the need for continuation of the order remains, we have seen significant actions by the RUF to suggest that the totality of actions taken in parallel with the order--an expanded U.N. peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone, British training of the Sierra Leone Army, the effective rebuff by the Guinean military of RUF incursions and U.N. Security Council sanctions against RUF sponsor President Taylor of Liberia--are effective in wearing down RUF effectiveness and its will to continue the conflict. Until the threat from the RUF is completely eliminated, along with its control of and illegal exploitation of diamond mining areas, the threat to U.S. foreign policy remains and Executive Order 13194 will remain in effect.