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Message to the Congress of the United States
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 16, 2008

Message to the Congress of the United States

ÿÿWhite House News


TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides
for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, prior to the
anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal
Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency
is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with
this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for
publication, stating that the national emergency and related measures
dealing with the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor are to continue
in effect beyond July 22, 2008.

Today, Liberia continues its peaceful transition to a democratic order
under the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The Government
of Liberia has implemented reforms that have allowed for the removal of
international sanctions on Liberian timber and diamonds, and Liberia is
participating in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to ensure that its natural
resources are used to benefit the people and country of Liberia, rather
than to fuel conflict. Charles Taylor is standing trial in The Hague by the
Special Court for Sierra Leone. However, stability in Liberia is still
fragile.

The regulations implementing Executive Order 13348 clarify that the subject
of this national emergency has been and remains limited to the former
Liberian regime of Charles Taylor and specified other persons and not the
country, citizens, Government, or Central Bank of Liberia.

The actions and policies of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and
other persons -- in particular their unlawful depletion of Liberian
resources, their trafficking in illegal arms, and their formation of
irregular militia -- continue to undermine Liberia's transition to
democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative, and
economic institutions and resources. These actions and policies pose an
unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United
States, and for these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to
continue the national emergency with respect to the former Liberian regime
of Charles Taylor.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 16, 2008.

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