*EPF503 05/17/2002
Text: Bush Informs Lawmakers That National Emergency With Burma Continues
(Submits six-month report on conditions justifying emergency) (560)

President Bush sent two messages to Congress May 16 saying the national emergency with Burma continues.

"The crisis between the United States and Burma, constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, including its policies of committing large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma, that led to the declaration of a national emergency on May 20, 1997, has not been resolved," Bush wrote to lawmakers.

"These policies are hostile to U.S. interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," he added.

Following are the texts of President Bush's letters to Congress regarding Burma:

(begin text)

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
H. DOC. NO. 107-211

House of Representatives
May 16, 2002

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States; which was read and, together with the accompanying papers, without objection, referred to the Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed:

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. I have sent the enclosed notice, stating that the Burma emergency is to continue beyond May 20, 2002, to the Federal Register for publication. The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2001.

The crisis between the United States and Burma, constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, including its policies of committing large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma, that led to the declaration of a national emergency on May 20, 1997, has not been resolved. These policies are hostile to U.S. interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this threat.

George W. Bush.

The White House, May 16, 2002.

PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
H. DOC. NO. 107-212

House of Representatives
May 16, 2002

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States; which was read and, together with the accompanying papers, without objection, 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 transmit herewith a 6-month periodic report prepared by my Administration on the national emergency with respect to Burma that was declared in Executive Order 13047 of May 20, 1997.

George W. Bush.

The White House, May 16, 2002.

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(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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