The White House Briefing Room

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August 22, 1998

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

                               THE WHITE HOUSE

                        Office of the Press Secretary
                     (Martha?s Vineyard, Massachusetts)
  ___________________________________________________________
  For Immediate Release                        August 22, 1998



                     TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
                              TO THE SPEAKER OF
                        THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                       AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE



                               August 20, 1998




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

  On January 23, 1995, in light of the threat posed by grave acts of
  violence committed by foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East
  peace process, using my authority under, inter alia,  the International
  Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), I declared a
  national emergency and issued Executive Order 12947.  Because such
  terrorist activities continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat
  to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
  States, I have renewed the national emergency declared in Executive Order
  12947 annually, most recently on January 21, 1998.  Pursuant to section
  204(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
  1703(b)) and section 201 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
  1631), I hereby report to the Congress that I have exercised my statutory
  authority to issue an Executive Order that amends Executive Order 12947
  in order more effectively to respond to the worldwide threat posed by
  foreign terrorists.

  The amendment to the Annex of Executive Order 12947 adds Usama bin
  Muhammad bin Awad bin Ladin (a.k.a. Usama bin Ladin), Islamic Army, Abu
  Hafs al-Masri, and Rifa'i Ahmad Taha Musa to the list of terrorists that
  are subject to the prohibitions contained in the Executive Order.  These
  prohibitions include the blocking of all property and interests in the
  property of the terrorists listed in the Annex, the prohibition of any
  transaction or dealing by United States persons or within the United
  States in property or interests in property of the persons designated,
  and the prohibition of any transaction by any United States persons or
  within the United States that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of
  evading or avoiding, any of the prohibitions set forth in the Executive
  Order.

  Usama bin Ladin and his organizations and associates have repeatedly
  called upon their supporters to perform acts of violence.  Bin Ladin has
  declared that killing Americans and their allies "is an individual duty
  for every Muslim . . . in order to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the
  Holy Mosque."  These threats are clearly intended to violently disrupt
  the Middle East peace process.

  This Executive Order does not limit or otherwise affect the other
  provisions of Executive Order 12947.

                                    more

                                                   (OVER)



                                      2

  I have authorized these actions in view of the danger posed to the
  national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States by
  the activities of Usama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Ladin (a.k.a. Usama bin
  Ladin), Islamic Army, Abu Hafs al-Masri, and Rifa'i Ahmad Taha Musa that
  disrupt the Middle East peace process.  I am enclosing a copy of the
  Executive Order that I have issued exercising my emergency authorities.

                              Sincerely,




                              WILLIAM J. CLINTON





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