The White House
97/01/02 Statement: Continuation of Libyan Emergency
Office of the Press Secretary



White House Press Statement
January 2, 1997



                     Continuation of Libyan Emergency



On January 7, 1986, by Executive Order No. 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 No. 12544, the President took 
additional measures to block Libyan assets in the United States.  The 
President has transmitted a notice continuing this emergency to the 
Congress and the Federal Register every year since 1986.  The most 
recent notice appeared in the Federal Register on January 5, 1996.

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 such 
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.  For these reasons, the national 
emergency declared on January 7, 1986, and the measures adopted on 
January 7 and January 8, 1986, to deal with that emergency, must 
continue in effect beyond January 7, 1997.  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