For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary January 17, 2003 Presidential Determination No. 2003-12 Subject: Presidential Determination on Extending Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act With Respect to Assistance to the Government Of Azerbaijan Pursuant to the authority contained in title II of the Kenneth M. Ludden Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-115), I hereby determine and certify that extending the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-511): * is necessary to support United States efforts to counter international terrorism; * is necessary to support the operational readiness of United States Armed Forces or coalition partners to counter international terrorism; * is important to Azerbaijan's border security; and * will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia. Accordingly, I hereby extend the waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. You are authorized and directed to notify the Congress of this determination and to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register. GEORGE W. BUSH # # # 30 January 2002 Text: WAIVER OF SECTION 907 WITH RESPECT TO AZERBAIJAN (Presidential determination January 25) (210) (begin text) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary January 28, 2002 January 25, 2002 PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION NO. 2002-06 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUBJECT: Waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act with Respect to Assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan Pursuant to the authority contained in Title II of the "Kenneth M. Ludden Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2002" (Public Law 107-115), I hereby determine and certify that a waiver of section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-511): -- is necessary to support U.S. efforts to counter international terrorism; -- is necessary to support the operational readiness of U.S. Armed Forces or coalition partners to counter international terrorism; -- is important to Azerbaijan's border security; and -- will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia. Accordingly, I hereby waive section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. You are authorized and directed to notify the Congress of this determination and to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register. GEORGE W. BUSH (end text) 30 January 2002 Text: Lifting Restrictions on Azerbaijan Permits More Cooperation (White House statement on Presidential Waiver of Section 907) (340) The lifting of restrictions on U.S. assistance to the government of Azerbaijan clears the way for Washington to "deepen its cooperation with Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism" and provides a foundation to "deepen security cooperation with Armenia on a common anti-terrorist agenda," according to a January 30 White House statement. The U.S. Congress adopted Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, banning U.S. government aid to Azerbaijan until it relieved pressure on Armenia and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. President Bush waived this section on January 25, 2002, after Congress passed legislation as part of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill granting him the authority to do so. Following is the text of the statement: (begin text) The White House Office of the Press Secretary January 30, 2002 STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER OF SECTION 907 OF THE FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT On January 25, 2002, President Bush waived Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act for 2002, thereby lifting restrictions on United States Government Assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan. President Bush and his Administration worked closely with both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with members of the Armenian American community, and with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to develop a waiver that is effective, fair, and balanced. The waiver clears the way for the United States to deepen its cooperation with Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism and in impeding the movement of terrorists into the South Caucasus. The waiver will also provide a foundation to deepen security cooperation with Armenia on a common anti-terrorist agenda. The President's exercise of this waiver authority marks an important step toward advancing a new web of U.S. security relationships with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Administration will build upon these developing ties to deter resumed hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, to foster reconciliation between the two countries, and to advance a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. (end text)