[House Document 112-107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-107
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
NOTIFICATION THAT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SYRIA,
ORIGINALLY DECLARED ON MAY 11, 2004, BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 13338, IS TO
CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MAY 11, 2012
May 9, 2012.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs 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, within 90 days 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 to the
Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating
that the national emergency with respect to the actions of the
Government of Syria declared in Executive Order 13338 of May
11, 2004, as modified in scope and relied upon for additional
steps taken in Executive Order 13399 of April 25, 2006,
Executive Order 13460 of February 13, 2008, Executive Order
13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011,
Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, Executive Order 13606
of April 22, 2012, and Executive Order 13608 of May 1, 2012, is
to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2012.
While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of foreign
fighters bound for Iraq, the regime's own brutality and
repression of its citizens who have been calling for freedom
and a representative government endangers not only the Syrian
people themselves, but could yield greater instability
throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions and
policies, including obstructing the Lebanese government's
ability to function effectively, pursuing chemical and
biological weapons, and supporting terrorist organizations,
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is
necessary to continue in effect the national emergency declared
with respect to this threat and to maintain in force the
sanctions to address this national emergency.
In addition, the United States condemns the Asad regime's
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the
Asad regime to step aside and immediately begin a transition in
Syria to a political process that will forge a credible path to
a future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and
justice. The United States will consider changes in the
composition, policies, and actions of the Government of Syria
in determining whether to continue or terminate this national
emergency in the future.
Barack Obama.
The White House, May 9, 2012.
Notice
----------
Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of
the Government of Syria
On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his authority under the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701-
1706, and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003, Public Law 108-175, the President
issued Executive Order 13338, in which he declared a national
emergency with respect to the actions of the Government of
Syria. To deal with this national emergency, Executive Order
13338 authorized the blocking of property of certain persons
and prohibited the exportation or reexportation of certain
goods to Syria. The national emergency was modified in scope
and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order
13399 of April 25, 2006, Executive Order 13460 of February 13,
2008, Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, Executive Order
13573 of May 18, 2011, Executive Order 13582 of August 17,
2011, Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012, and Executive
Order 13608 of May 1, 2012.
The President took these actions to deal with the unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the
actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism,
maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing
weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and
undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the
stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.
While the Syrian regime has reduced the number of foreign
fighters bound for Iraq, the regime's own brutality and
repression of its citizens who have been calling for freedom
and a representative government endangers not only the Syrian
people themselves, but could yield greater instability
throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions and
policies, including obstructing the Lebanese government's
ability to function effectively, pursuing chemical and
biological weapons, and supporting terrorist organizations,
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United
States. As a result, the national emergency declared on May 11,
2004, and the measures adopted on that date in Executive Order
13338; on April 25, 2006, in Executive Order 13399; on February
13, 2008, in Executive Order 13460; on April 29, 2011, in
Executive Order 13572; on May 18, 2011, in Executive Order
13573; on August 17, 2011, in Executive Order 13582; on April
22, 2012, in Executive Order 13606; and on May 1, 2012, in
Executive Order 13608, to deal with that emergency must
continue in effect beyond May 11, 2012. Therefore, in
accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act,
50 U.S.C. 1622(d), I am continuing for 1 year the national
emergency declared with respect to the actions of the
Government of Syria.
In addition, the United States condemns the Asad regime's
use of brutal violence and human rights abuses and calls on the
Asad regime to step aside and immediately begin a transition in
Syria to a political process that will forge a credible path to
a future of greater freedom, democracy, opportunity, and
justice. The United States will consider changes in the
composition, policies, and actions of the Government of Syria
in determining whether to continue or terminate this national
emergency in the future. This notice shall be published in the
Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
Barack Obama.
The White House, May 9, 2012.