Presidential Documents

39279

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 123

Monday, June 26, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Executive Order 13159 of June 21, 2000

Blocking Property of the Government of the Russian Federation Relating to the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium

Extracted From Nuclear Weapons

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the

laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency

Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United

States Code.

I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, in

view of the policies underlying Executive Order 12938 of November 14,

1994, and Executive Order 13085 of May 26, 1998, find that the risk of

nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and

foreign policy of the United States, and hereby declare a national emergency

to deal with that threat.

I hereby order:

Section 1. A major national security goal of the United States is to ensure

that fissile material removed from Russian nuclear weapons pursuant to

various arms control and disarmament agreements is dedicated to peaceful

uses, subject to transparency measures, and protected from diversion to

activities of proliferation concern. As reflected in Executive Order 13085,

the full implementation of the Agreement Between the Government of the

United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation

Concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from

Nuclear Weapons, dated February 18, 1993, and related contracts and agreements (collectively, the ‘‘HEU Agreements’’) is essential to the attainment

of this goal. The HEU Agreements provide for the conversion of approximately 500 metric tons of highly enriched uranium contained in Russian

nuclear weapons into low-enriched uranium for use as fuel in commercial

nuclear reactors. In furtherance of our national security goals, all heads

of departments and agencies of the United States Government shall continue

to take all appropriate measures within their authority to further the full

implementation of the HEU Agreements.

Sec. 2. Government of the Russian Federation assets directly related to

the implementation of the HEU Agreements currently may be subject to

attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial

process, thereby jeopardizing the full implementation of the HEU Agreements

to the detriment of U.S. foreign policy. In order to ensure the preservation

and proper and complete transfer to the Government of the Russian Federation of all payments due to it under the HEU Agreements, and except

to the extent provided in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that

may hereafter be issued pursuant to this order, all property and interests

in property of the Government of the Russian Federation directly related

to the implementation of the HEU Agreements that are in the United States,

that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come

within the possession or control of United States persons, including their

overseas branches, are hereby blocked and may not be transferred, paid,

exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in. Unless licensed or authorized

pursuant to this order, any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution,

39280 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 123 / Monday, June 26, 2000 / Presidential Documents

garnishment, or other judicial process is null and void with respect to

any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to this order.

Sec. 3. For the purposes of this order: (a) The term ‘‘person’’ means an

individual or entity;

(b) The term ‘‘entity’’ means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture,

corporation, or other organization;

(c) The term ‘‘United States person’’ means any United States citizen;

permanent resident alien; juridical person organized under the laws of the

United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including foreign

branches; or any person in the United States; and

(d) The term ‘‘Government of the Russian Federation’’ means the Government of the Russian Federation, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for

or on behalf of, the Government of the Russian Federation.

Sec. 4. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary

of State, the Secretary of Energy, and, as appropriate, other agencies, is

hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules

and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to me by IEEPA, as

may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary

of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers

and agencies of the United States Government. All agencies of the United

States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures

within their statutory authority to carry out the provisions of this order.

(b) Nothing contained in this order shall relieve a person from any requirement to obtain a license or other authorization from any department or

agency of the United States Government in compliance with applicable

laws and regulations subject to the jurisdiction of the department or agency.

Sec. 5. This order is not intended to create, nor does it create, any right,

benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a

party against the United States, its agencies, officers, or any other person.

Sec. 6. (a) This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on

June 22, 2000.

(b) This order shall be transmitted to the Congress and published in

the 

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 21, 2000.

Federal Register.

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[FR Doc. 00–16252

Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P