[House Document 107-249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
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)
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.