*EPF204 10/01/2002
Excerpt: Bush Says U.S. Policy on Jerusalem Has Not Changed
(President����s Statement on Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003) (300)

President Bush on September 30 signed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003, and then issued a statement in which he said the act contained provisions that "impermissibly interfere with the constitutional functions of the presidency in foreign affairs, including provisions that purport to establish foreign policy that are of significant concern."

Noting that the section calling for U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel����s capital interferes with his constitutional authority, the President said he would consider such provisions to be "advisory," rather than "mandatory."

"U.S. policy on Jerusalem has not changed," the President said.

U.S. policy regards Jerusalem as a permanent status issue, which must be negotiated by the Israelis and Palestinians.

Following is the excerpt on Jerusalem from President Bush����s September 30 statement.

(begin excerpt)

I have today signed into law H.R. 1646, the "Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003." This Act authorizes appropriations, and provides important new authorities, for diplomatic and related activities of the U.S. Government. Many provisions in the Act will strengthen our ability to advance American interests around the globe, including nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to meet our international commitments, including those to the United Nations. Regrettably, the Act contains a number of provisions that impermissibly interfere with the constitutional functions of the presidency in foreign affairs, including provisions that purport to establish foreign policy that are of significant concern.

. . . .

Section 214, concerning Jerusalem, impermissibly interferes with the President����s constitutional authority to conduct the Nation����s foreign affairs and to supervise the unitary executive branch. Moreover, the purported direction in section 214 would, if construed as mandatory rather than advisory, impermissibly interfere with the President����s constitutional authority to formulate the position of the United States, speak for the Nation in international affairs, and determine the terms on which recognition is given to foreign states. U.S. policy regarding Jerusalem has not changed.

(end excerpt)

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

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