The White House Briefing Room
July 6, 1999
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
(Clarksdale, Mississippi)
_____________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 6, 1999
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
July 4, 1999
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) and section 301 of the National Emergencies Act,
50 U.S.C. 1631, I hereby report that I have exercised my statutory
authority to declare a National emergency with respect to the threat to
the United States posed by the actions and policies of the Afghan Taliban
and have issued an executive order to deal with this threat.
The actions and policies of the Afghan Taliban pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
United States. The Taliban continues to provide safe haven to Usama bin
Ladin allowing him and the Al-Quida organization to operate from
Taliban-controlled territory a network of terrorist training camps and to
use Afghanistan as a base from which to sponsor terrorist operations
against the United States.
Usama bin Ladin and the Al-Qaida organization have been involved in at
least two separate attacks against the United States. On August 7, 1998,
the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
were attacked using powerful explosive truck bombs. The following people
have been indicted for criminal activity against the United States in
connection with Usama bin Ladin and/or the Al-Qaida organization: Usama
bin Ladin, his military commander Muhammed Atef, Wadih El Hage, Fazul
Abdullah Mohammed, Mohammed Sadeek Odeh, Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-Owhali,
Mustafa Mohammed Fadhil, Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani,
Fahid Mohommed Ally Msalam, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, Mamdouh Mahmud
Salim, Ali Mohammed, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and Khaled Al Fawwaz. In
addition, bin Ladin and his network are currently planning additional
attacks against U.S. interests and nationals.
Since at least 1998 and up to the date of the Executive order, the
Taliban has continued to provide bin Ladin with safe haven and security,
allowing him the necessary freedom to operate. Repeated efforts by the
United States to persuade the Taliban to expel bin Ladin to a third
country where he can be brought to justice for his crimes have failed.
The United States has also attempted to apply pressure on the Taliban
both directly and through frontline states in a position to influence
Taliban behavior. Despite these efforts, the Taliban has not only
continued, but has also deepened its support for, and its relationship
with, Usama bin Ladin and associated terrorist networks.
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(OVER)
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Accordingly, I have concluded that the actions and policies of the
Taliban pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security
and foreign policy of the United States. I have, therefore, exercised my
statutory authority and issued an Executive order which, except to the
extent provided for in section 203 (b) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1072(b)) and
regulations, orders, directives or licenses that may be issued pursuant
to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any
license or permit granted prior to the effective date:
-- blocks all property and interests in property of the Taliban,
including the Taliban leaders listed in the annex to the order that
are in the United States or that are or hereafter come within the
possession or control of United States persons;
-- prohibits any transaction or dealing by United States persons or
within the United States in property or interests in property
blocked pursuant to the order,
including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds,
goods, or services to or for the benefit of the Taliban;
-- prohibits the exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply,
directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United
States person, wherever located, of any goods, software, technology
(including technical data), or services to the territory of
Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban or to the Taliban; and
-- prohibits the importation into the United States of any goods,
software, technology, or services owned or controlled by the Taliban
or from the territory of Afghanistan under the control of the
Taliban.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of
State, is directed to authorize commercial sales of agricultural
commodities and products, medicine and medical equipment, for civilian
end use in the territory of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban under
appropriate safeguards to prevent diversion to military, paramilitary, or
terrorist end-users or end-use or to political end-use.
This order and subsequent licenses will likewise allow humanitarian,
diplomatic, and journalistic activities to continue.
I have designated in the Executive order, Mullah Mohhamad Omar, the
leader of the Taliban, and I have authorized the Secretary of State to
designate additional persons as Taliban leaders in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General.
The Secretary of the Treasury is further authorized to designate persons
or entities, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney
General, that are owned or controlled, or are acting for or on behalf of
the Taliban or that provide financial, material, or technical support to
the Taliban. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue
regulations in the exercise of my authorities under the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement these measures in consultation
with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General. All Federal
agencies are directed to take actions within their authority to carry out
the provisions of the Executive order.
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The measures taken in this order will immediately demonstrate to the
Taliban the seriousness of our concern over its support for terrorists
and terrorist networks, and increase the international isolation of the
Taliban. The blocking of the Taliban's property and the other
prohibitions imposed under this executive order will further limit the
Taliban's ability to facilitate and support terrorists and terrorist
networks. It is particularly important for the United States to
demonstrate to the Taliban the necessity of conforming to accepted norms
of international behavior.
I am enclosing a copy of the Executive order I have issued. This order
is effective at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 6, 1999.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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