30 December 1998
Source:
http://library.whitehouse.gov/PressReleases-plain.cgi
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 30, 1998
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE CHAIRMEN AND RANKING MINORITY MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS,
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, AND FOREIGN RELATIONS
December 29, 1998
Dear Mr. Chairman: (Dear Representative:) (Dear Senator:)
I hereby submit the reorganization plan and report required by section 1601
of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (Public Law
105-277, Division G). As required by the Act, the reorganization plan and
report describe how the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency,
the United States Information Agency, and portions of the United States
Agency for International Development will be integrated into the Department
of State.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 30, 1998
FACT SHEET
Foreign Affairs Reorganization
Today President Clinton sent to the Congress a plan and report on
reorganization of the foreign affairs agencies, pursuant to the Foreign
Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998. The Act provides authority
to reorganize the foreign affairs agencies and is based on the plan
announced by the President on April 18, 1997.
Reorganization of the foreign affairs agencies will sustain and strengthen
U.S. leadership for a new century that will pose new threats and
opportunities.
The reorganization plan puts arms control and nonproliferation, public
diplomacy, and sustainable development where they belong, at the heart of
our foreign policy in a reinvented Department of State. The plan preserves
the special missions of the foreign affairs agencies, takes full advantage
of their talented personnel, and lends greater coherence and effectiveness
to our international affairs activities. Over time, integration will yield
operating efficiencies as well as improve the quality of our activities.
The Reorganization
The United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) will be
integrated into the State Department on March 28, 1999. The missions of
arms control, nonproliferation, and political-military affairs will be
under the policy oversight of the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control
and International Security, who will also serve as Senior Adviser to the
President and the Secretary of State on Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and
Disarmament. In the capacity of Senior Adviser, the Under Secretary will
be able to communicate with the President through the Secretary and will
participate in meetings of the National Security Council on arms control,
nonproliferation and disarmament. Five bureaus in ACDA and State will be
reduced to three -- the Bureaus of Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and
Political Military Affairs -- for which the Under Secretary will exercise
policy oversight. A Special Adviser reporting directly to the Under
Secretary will focus on verification and compliance issues. The Department
of State will have a leadership role in the interagency process on
nonproliferation policy, and an enhanced role in the interagency process on
arms control policy. An advisory board will be established to make
recommendations to the Secretary through the Under Secretary on arms
control, nonproliferation, and disarmament.
The United States Information Agency (USIA) will be integrated into State
on October 1, 1999. The missions of public diplomacy -- to understand,
inform, and influence foreign audiences and broaden the dialogue between
American citizens and institutions and their counterparts abroad -- will be
under the policy direction of a new Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy
and Public Affairs. Two bureaus in USIA will be streamlined into one at
State -- the Bureau of International Information and Exchange Programs.
The Bureau will be responsible for academic and professional exchanges and
educational and cultural affairs and will produce information programs and
services to advocate U.S. policy positions with foreign audiences.
Information activities will focus on foreign audiences in recognition of
the long-standing intent of the Congress to separate overseas public
diplomacy efforts from those which inform the press and the American
public. State's Bureau of Public Affairs will incorporate the Foreign
Press Centers now operated by USIA. USIA's area offices will join
respective regional bureaus at State, and public diplomacy staffs will be
added as appropriate to State functional bureaus. USIA's Research office
will integrate with State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and public
diplomacy activities abroad will be carried out as an integrated part of
the State component of our overseas missions.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), now part of USIA, will become a
separate federal entity. Consistent with the Act, the BBG and the
Secretary of State shall respect the professional independence and
integrity of U.S. international broadcasting, which includes the Voice of
America and surrogate broadcasting. U.S. broadcasting will also remain an
essential instrument of American foreign policy. The Secretary will
provide information and guidance on foreign policy issues to the BBG, and
the Secretary will have a seat on the BBG replacing the USIA Director.
State, USIA, and the BBG have worked out arrangements for transferring to
the BBG funds, resources, and personnel commensurate with the
administrative and other support they now receive from USIA and sufficient
for the BBG to operate as an independent entity.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will remain
a separate agency. On April 1, 1999, however, the USAID Administrator will
report to and be under the direct authority and foreign policy guidance of
the Secretary of State. To maximize consistency with overall U.S.
international affairs priorities, the Secretary will coordinate development
and other economic assistance, except export promotion and international
financial assistance, which will be coordinated by the Secretaries of
Commerce and Treasury, respectively. The Secretary of State will review
USAID's strategic and performance plans, budget submissions and appeals,
and allocations and significant reprogrammings, and delegate or redelegate
to USAID the functions and authorities it needs to carry out its mission.
The Department of State's reinvention efforts will be bolstered by greater
integration of the foreign affairs agencies. State has already taken some
important steps and integration offers new opportunities for further
reinvention. The Under Secretaries comprise a new Corporate Board chaired
by the Deputy Secretary to address major cross-cutting issues and strategic
planning. Assistant Secretaries have more autonomy in resource management.
State will further its performance planning efforts to improve the link
between strategic goals and resources. State has created a new Bureau of
Western Hemisphere Affairs, moving Canadian affairs into the former Bureau
of Inter-American Affairs, to emphasize the importance of NAFTA and
economic and political integration in this hemisphere. State is also
creating a Bureau of East European and Eurasian Affairs to streamline
policy direction and implementation in the newly independent states of the
former Soviet Union. Within two years State will review all bureau
configurations.
Bipartisanship and International Affairs Resources
Reorganization is a bipartisan initiative, and the Administration will work
cooperatively with the Congress on its implementation. Increased
efficiency is important to ensuring U.S. leadership for democracy,
opportunity and prosperity around the world. But it is also necessary
that we ensure there are sufficient resources for our foreign policy to
succeed. The international financial crisis, instability in the Middle
East, Kosovo, and Russia, continued acts of terrorism (including the
embassy bombings in East Africa), and risks that nuclear, biological, and
chemical weapons will proliferate show that there remain many threats to
U.S. interests. We need both effective organization and sufficient
resources to ensure a strong foreign policy that serves the interests of
the American people.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 30, 1998
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM
THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
December 30, 1998
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
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 decla-ration, 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, stating
that the Libyan emergency is to continue in effect beyond January 7, 1999,
to the Federal Register for publication. Similar notices have been sent
annually to the Congress and published in the Federal Register. The most
recent notice was signed on January 2, 1998, and appeared in the Federal
Register on January 6, 1998.
The crisis between the United States and Libya that led to the declaration
of a national emergency on January 7, 1986, has not been resolved. The
Government of Libya has continued its actions and policies in support of
terrorism, despite the calls by the United Nations Security Council, in
Resolu-tions 731 (1992), 748 (1992), and 883 (1993), that Libya demonstrate
by concrete actions its renunciation of terrorism. Such Libyan actions and
policies pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and vital foreign policy interests of the United States.
Furthermore, the Libyan government has not delivered the two Lockerbie
bombing suspects for trial, even though the United States and United
Kingdom accepted Libya's proposal to try the suspects in a Scottish court
in a third country. Libya's stalling in handing over the suspects is yet
another indication of Libya's continued support for terrorism and rejection
of international norms. For these reasons, I have determined that it is
necessary to
maintain in force the broad authorities necessary to apply economic
pressure to the Government of Libya to reduce its ability to support
international terrorism.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 30, 1998
NOTICE
- - - - - - -
CONTINUATION OF LIBYAN EMERGENCY
On January 7, 1986, by Executive Order 12543, President Reagan
declared a national emergency to deal with the unusual and extraordinary
threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States
constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Libya. On
January 8, 1986, by Executive Order 12544, the President took additional
measures to block Libyan assets in the United States. Every President has
transmitted to the Congress and the Federal Register a notice continuing
this emergency each year since 1986.
The crisis between the United States and Libya that led to the
declaration of a national emergency on January 7, 1986, has not been
resolved. The Government of Libya has continued its actions and policies
in support of terrorism, despite the calls by the United Nations Security
Council, in Resolutions 731 (1992), 748 (1992), and 883 (1993), that it
demonstrate by concrete actions its renunciation of terrorism. Therefore,
in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50
U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national emergency with respect to
Libya. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and
transmitted to the Congress.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 30, 1998.
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