[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 20, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59171-59172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29867]
[[Page 59169]]
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Part IV
The President
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Presidential Determination No. 97-01 of November 8, 1996--Assistance
Program for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 225 / Wednesday, November 20, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 59171]]
Presidential Determination No. 97-01 of November 8,
1996
Assistance Program for the New Independent States
of the Former Soviet Union
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Pursuant to subsection (o) under the heading
``Assistance for the New Independent States of the
Former Soviet Union'' in Title II of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, for fiscal year 1996 (Public Law
104-107) and fiscal year 1997 (Public Law 104-208), I
hereby determine that it is important to the national
security interest of the United States to make
available funds appropriated under that heading without
regard to the restriction in that subsection.
You are authorized and directed to notify the Congress
of this determination and to arrange for its
publication in the Federal Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, November 8, 1996.
Memorandum of Justification Regarding Determination
Under Title II of the Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act
(Public Laws 104-107 and 104-208)
The Administration shares the deep concern of the
Congress over Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran.
Such cooperation, which could contribute over time to a
nuclear-armed Iran, continues to be a threat not only
to U.S. security interests, the Middle East Peace
Process, and global stability, but also to Russian
security interests as well. In dealing with this
pressing issue, the Administration has repeatedly and
strenuously objected to any form of nuclear cooperation
with Iran. The President has raised the important issue
repeatedly and directly with President Yeltsin,
including during their April 1996 meeting in Moscow.
The Vice President discussed our concerns with Prime
Minister Chernomyrdin most recently during their July
Meeting in Moscow. The Administration has also
established a multi-level dialogue with the Russians
and continues to give this issue the necessary high
priority on the bilateral agenda. In addition, we have
made clear to the Russians that we are not prepared to
renew or expand the current U.S.-Russian Agreement on
S&T Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Atomic
Energy because of Russia's ongoing nuclear cooperation
with Iran. In addition, we informed the Russians in
1995 that a Section 123 agreement would not be possible
while Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran continues.
Subsection (o) under the heading, ``Assistance for
the New Independent States of the Former Soviet
Union,'' in Title II of the FY 1996 and FY 1997 Foreign
Operations Appropriations Acts contain a restriction on
assistance to Russia unless there is a Presidential
determination that the Government of Russia has
terminated implementation of arrangements to provide
[[Page 59172]]
Iran with technical expertise, training, technology, or
equipment necessary to develop a nuclear reactor or
related nuclear research facilities or programs. Given
present circumstances, the President is unable to make
this determination. In order to further the national
security interest of the United States, the President
is exercising the authority provided by the Congress in
subsection (o) to make funds available to Russia under
these Acts without regard to this restriction.
The President takes this action because it remains
important to the national security interest of the
United States to continue support for the reform
process in Russia. Assisting Russia and the other New
Independent States in their transitions to democratic
systems of government and market economies continues to
be one of the Administration's highest foreign policy
goals. As we noted in our previous determination, the
outcome of this historic reform effort will have a
critical impact on the future of regional and
international peace and stability as well as the
national security interests of the United States. Much
has already been accomplished along the uncharted road
to reform in Russia, including Russia's unprecedented
1996 Presidential elections. The transformation of
Russia into a more democratic, market-oriented society,
however, is a long-term proposition, and the outcome is
far from certain. The United States and the world
community must remain steadfast in support of the
people of Russia and the other New Independent States
(NIS) during this important period of transition.
Our assistance and other cooperative programs
continue to play a vital role promoting basic U.S.
interests by furthering the reform process in Russia
and bolstering fledgling democratic, market-oriented
processes and institutions. With the Russian
presidential elections complete, Russia must now
accelerate major structural reforms, such as building
the legal and institutional structures to support a
market economy. To cut off assistance and thereby
sharply cut back the influence Americans are having on
Russian reform at this important juncture in Russia's
history would be counterproductive. Most significantly,
a withdrawal of assistance would undercut those in
Russia who seek to build relations of a new kind with
the United States, who support democratic and market
economic principles, and who are helping to integrate
Russia into global economic and security systems.
We must continue to support two worthy foreign
policy goals: supporting the reform process in Russia
and ending Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran.
Carefully designed and implemented assistance programs
will help us to achieve the former, which in turn will
help lessen the incentive for Russia to cooperate with
Iran on nuclear programs. Active engagement with Russia
at the highest levels will also help us accomplish this
latter objective. We will continue to work with the
Congress to achieve our mutual goals in this regard.
The President has made this determination because
it is essential to enable us to continue to pursue with
Russia our policy of pragmatic engagement, in which we
seek to support U.S. national security and other
interests by helping to integrate Russia into global
economic and security systems as a cooperative,
peaceful, and prosperous member of the world community.
[FR Doc. 96-29867
Filed 11-19-96; 8:46 am]
Billing code 4710-10-M
