Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / Oct. 19

environmental protections by preventing a re- the progress we can achieve when we work to- turn to more natural flows on the Missouri gether to address the Nation’s priorities. River. These forward steps are clear proof of

Joint Statement With Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of October 19, 2000

Today, in their first meeting since President Assessment reform that will place that organiza- Clinton’s historic trip to Bangladesh in March, tion on a solid financial footing. The two leaders Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President discussed their mutual interest in promoting Clinton renewed and strengthened the excellent greater cooperation in regional fora, such as the ties enjoyed by our two democracies and ex- South Asian Association for Regional Coopera- pressed their conviction that U.S.-Bangladeshi tion (SAARC). The President pointed to the set- relations should deepen and broaden in the tlement of the Hill Tracts conflict years ahead. The two leaders also expressed sat- and the Water Sharing Agreement as isfaction with continuing constructive consulta- excellent examples of peacemaking and dispute tions between government officials of both coun- resolution in the region. tries. The President expressed satisfaction that Ban- The and Bangladesh are two gladesh was the first country in to of the world’s most populous democracies. In ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and keeping with the commitment to democracy our reaffirmed the American intention to work for two nations enthusiastically endorsed in Warsaw ratification of the Treaty at its earliest possible in June 2000, Bangladesh and the United States date. Both leaders welcomed the work of the expressed their common commitment to the free Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization’s and fair conduct of elections, strengthening Preparatory Organization in establishing a seis- democratic institutions and the rule of law. The mic auxiliary station in Chittagong. They wel- President appreciated the Prime Minister’s reit- comed the extension of our bilateral Peaceful eration of her commitment to strengthening de- Uses of Nuclear Energy Agreement. The Prime mocracy and democratic institutions and the ex- Minister expressed Bangladesh’s interest in par- pression of her determination to further encour- ticipating in the United States’ program to dis- age efforts for independent election monitoring, pose of spent fuel. particularly for national elections under a care- The Prime Minister and President noted with taker government. satisfaction the significant improvement in U.S.- The President expressed satisfaction and ap- Bangladesh economic relations over the last sev- preciation for Bangladesh’s role in fostering eral years, in which continuing development as- international peace and cooperation, as well as sistance has been accompanied by a rapid in- the Prime Minister’s efforts to reduce tensions crease of American and an increase in the South Asian region. The two leaders in bilateral trade. The President praised the rise agreed it is essential for the United States and of Bangladesh as a partner in development, a Bangladesh to coordinate positions on major supporter of private/public partnerships, and a issues that come before the United Nations Se- participant in the world economy. The leaders curity Council and other international fora. Re- emphasized the positive effect the implementa- garding the Middle East, the two leaders lauded tion of investor-friendly policies has on attracting the call, made at Sharm el-Sheikh, for an end foreign investment. The Prime Minister and to violence and resumed efforts toward peace. President welcomed progress on the conclusion The President also praised Bangladesh’s signifi- of negotiations on gas production and explo- cant commitment to international peacekeeping. ration in east-central Bangladesh. Given the im- The Prime Minister assured the President that portant role that natural gas can play in Ban- Bangladesh will maintain this commitment and gladesh’s development, the two leaders ap- will actively support a United Nations Scale of plauded the work of Petrobangla and the United

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States Geological Survey in estimating Ban- port processing zones, and affirmed the Amer- gladesh’s gas resources. The Prime Minister stat- ican commitment to assist in this process. ed that these resources will be used to accel- The United States and Bangladesh agreed to erate Bangladesh’s economic development and cooperate closely in the fight against inter- improve the lives of its people. national crime, narcotics trafficking and ter- The Prime Minister stressed that the garment rorism. The two leaders agreed to build on law sector has been an engine of growth in Ban- enforcement cooperation with further training gladesh, providing to nearly two and consultation, particularly in combating million women. Considering the importance of crimes of violence against women. They recog- the sector in the , nized the need for improvements in Ban- the Prime Minister asked the President to pro- gladesh’s police force and prisons and agreed vide more preferential access to Bangladeshi ex- to explore ways in which police professionalism ports to the United States. and prison conditions could be improved. The two leaders shared their common com- The President and Prime Minister noted with mitment to continuing liberalization of inter- satisfaction that progress has been made toward national trade within the context of the World the negotiation of an extradition treaty and Trade Organization. Noting that the efficiency agreed to facilitate an early conclusion of work of Bangladesh’s port facilities is a critical factor on it. in enhancing Bangladesh’s opportunities in On the environment, the leaders welcome the world trade, the two leaders welcomed progress establishment of a Tropical Forest Conservation in negotiations for building a new container port Fund, the first of its kind in the world, to enable terminal and expressed the hope that an agree- bilateral debt relief to be used to preserve ment could be signed at an early date. unique ecosystems and protect the global envi- The two leaders discussed Bangladesh’s po- ronment. tential in the field of information technology and the President invited Bangladesh to partici- They welcomed the signing of an agreement pate as a partner country in the Internet for to enable Bangladesh to participate in the Glob- Economic Development (IED) Initiative. They al Learning and Observations to Benefit the En- pledged to work for the early conclusion of a vironment (GLOBE) initiative. tax treaty between Bangladesh and the United They welcomed the Clean Energy Agreement States. Finally, the two leaders agreed to take signed by representatives of the two govern- steps to liberalize air services. ments. The President voiced his strong support for The two leaders expressed concern at the seri- actions already underway in Bangladesh to im- ous danger posed by arsenic contamination to prove the lives of the working poor, especially the people of Bangladesh and noted the United women. The Prime Minister and President ex- States Geological Survey’s work on the arsenic pressed their joint commitment to promote groundwater problem in Bangladesh, and the internationally recognized labor rights and im- grants of the Trade and Development Agency prove working conditions. They noted with satis- and the National Science Foundation to conduct faction the work of the International Labor Or- research in this area. ganization in Bangladesh, supported by the The two leaders encouraged cooperation be- United States Department of Labor. They rec- tween Bangladesh business people and investors ognized the pioneering role played by Ban- and their American counterparts. The leaders gladesh in efforts to eliminate child labor in remarked on the success of the newly reestab- the garment industry. They agreed on the global lished Peace Corps program in Bangladesh and need to fight child labor and trafficking in agreed to explore how this program could be women and children and expressed confidence expanded. The Prime Minister noted the inter- in new international and United States programs est of Bangladesh students in expanding oppor- that will address this issue in South Asia. The tunities for higher education in the United President applauded the Prime Minister’s com- States. The Prime Minister and the President mitment to conclude the process of ratification paid tribute to the contributions of Bangladesh of ILO convention 182 this year. The President immigrants to the United States in improving encouraged the Prime Minister to establish our commercial ties and cultural exchanges. internationally-recognized labor rights in its ex- Bangladesh traditions, heritage, and talents are

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a rich contribution to American life, further en- NOTE: An original was not available for hancing the growing relationship between our verification of the content of this joint statement. two societies.

Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia October 19, 2000

To the Congress of the United States: continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies threat to the national security, foreign policy, Act, 50 U.S.C. 1622(d) provides for the auto- and economy of the United States and to cause matic termination of a national emergency un- unparalleled violence, corruption, and harm in less, prior to the anniversary date of its declara- the United States and abroad. For these reasons, tion, the President publishes in the Federal Reg- I have determined that it is necessary to main- ister and transmits to the Congress a notice stat- tain economic pressures on significant narcotics ing that the emergency is to continue in effect traffickers centered in Colombia by blocking beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with their property subject to the jurisdiction of the this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice United States and by depriving them of access to the Federal Register for publication, stating to the United States market and financial sys- that the emergency declared with respect to sig- tem. nificant narcotics traffickers centered in Colom- WILLIAM J. CLINTON bia is to continue in effect for 1 year beyond October 21, 2000. The White House, The circumstances that led to the declaration October 19, 2000. on October 21, 1995, of a national emergency have not been resolved. The actions of signifi- NOTE: The notice is listed in Appendix D at the cant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia end of this volume.

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a Resolution on Armenian Genocide October 19, 2000

Dear Speaker Hastert: this troubled region of the world: containing the I am writing to you to express my deep con- threat posed by Saddam Hussein; working for cern about H. Res. 596, dealing with the tragic peace and stability in the Middle East and Cen- events in eastern Anatolia under Ottoman rule tral Asia; stabilizing the Balkans; and developing in the years 1915-1923. new sources of energy. Consideration of the res- Every year on April 24, I have commemorated olution at this sensitive time will not only nega- Armenian Remembrance Day, mourning the de- tively affect those interests, but could undermine portations and massacres of innocent Armenians efforts to encourage improved relations between during that era. And every year, I have chal- and —the very goal the Resolu- lenged all Americans to recommit themselves tion’s sponsors seek to advance. to ensuring that such horrors never occur again. We fully understand how strongly both Tur- However, I am deeply concerned that consid- eration of H. Res. 596 at this time could have key and Armenia feel about this issue. Ulti- far-reaching negative consequences for the mately, this painful matter can only be resolved United States. We have significant interests in by both sides examining the past together.

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