Administration of Barack Obama, 2013 / June 14 Congress a notice stating that the emergency is democratic governance and respect for human to continue in effect beyond the anniversary rights. date. In accordance with this provision, I have The actions and policies of certain members sent to the Federal Register for publication the of the Government of Belarus and other per- enclosed notice stating that the national emer- sons to undermine Belarus’s democratic pro- gency with respect to the actions and policies cesses or institutions, to commit human rights of certain members of the Government of Be- abuses related to political repression, and to larus and other persons to undermine Belarus’s engage in public corruption continue to pose democratic processes or institutions that was an unusual and extraordinary threat to the na- declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, is to continue in effect beyond June 16, tional security and foreign policy of the United 2013. States. For this reason, I have determined that In 2012, the Government of Belarus contin- it is necessary to continue the national emer- ued its crackdown against political opposition, gency declared in Executive Order 13405 with civil society, and independent media. The Sep- respect to Belarus. tember 23 elections failed to meet internation- al standards. The government arbitrarily ar- BARACK OBAMA rested, detained, and imprisoned citizens for criticizing officials or for participating in dem- The White House, onstrations; imprisoned at least one human June 13, 2013. rights activist on manufactured charges; and prevented independent media from dissemi- NOTE: An original was not available for verifi- nating information and materials. These ac- cation of the content of this message. The no- tions show that the Government of Belarus has tice is listed in Appendix D at the end of this not taken steps forward in the development of volume. Remarks Honoring the 2012 Women’s National Basketball Association Champion Indiana Fever June 14, 2013 The President. Hello, everybody. Welcome This is not Coach Dunn’s first trip to the to the White House. Everybody, please have a White House. She came here when she was a seat. Congratulations to the 2012 WNBA Girl Scout; I won’t say which administration champions, the Indiana Fever. [Applause] that was. [Laughter] Hey! I told them, if you’re from Indiana, you’d Head Coach Lin Dunn. Thank you. better have a good basketball team. [Laughter] The President. I also want to recognize the They brought Indiana’s other championship WNBA President, Laurel Richie, and Fever team with them, the Division III women’s bas- team owner Herb Simons. Where are they? I ketball champions, the 34-and-0 DePauw Ti- didn’t know where you went. Now, Herb is al- so the owner of the Indiana Pacers. I will not gers, who are in the audience. Where are you, comment on that. [Laughter] Although, we do Tigers? Tigers, right back here. How about both have something in common, which is, our that? Well, that’s pretty cool. Well, we’re going teams got knocked out by the Heat. [Laughter] to have to get a picture after we do all this, with But we will get even next year. the Tigers. I don’t know, by the way, if this is a And while our towns have a friendly rivalry recruiting violation, you guys bringing them going on, I still recognize those Midwestern here. [Laughter] This is—she’s keeping her values when I see them. We saw it in the Indi- eye out for new talent. ana Fever, which is, you look out for your 581 June 14 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2013 teammates. You kept fighting, no matter what we really thank you for that. And we appreciate gets thrown at you. As Coach Dunn put it: “We that. And I want—[applause]. are all blue collar. We work hard on defense. And I want to thank the entire Indiana Fe- We rebound. We’re tough.” ver for giving back to their communities, not And that toughness got this team through a just being role models, but also taking time out season with more than its fair share of injuries. off the court. Tamika has her own foundation, Nevertheless, whenever one player went Catch the Stars, and she’s helped the First La- down, another stepped up. So, in game 3 dy, Michelle, with the “Let’s Move!” program against Connecticut in the Eastern Conference to encourage kids to eat healthy and exercise. Finals, hometown hero Katie Douglas was Players on the Fever have received a combined sidelined for the rest of the season. It looked 13 WNBA Community Assist Awards for the team might be in real trouble, and then countless hours they spend volunteering. They players like Erin Philips came alive. They visit local school kids as part of the Read to stormed back, won the game, then the series, Achieve program. They’ve teamed up with the earning a spot in the Finals. Habitat of Humanity to help build homes for folks in Indianapolis. And right after this, That’s when they had their “Hoosiers” mo- they’re going to run a basketball clinic on the ment. To be fair, you have a lot more court South Lawn for young people here in DC. time under your belts than the team from So it’s that kind of commitment that makes Hickory High. But you came into the finals as the Fever not just a winning team, but a special underdogs. The Minnesota Lynx were the de- team. So I really want to congratulate them on fending champions. They had won the season an incredible 2012 season. We wish them the series 2–0. They knew that they had to step up best of luck in 2013. Everybody, give the Indi- their game, and that’s what they did. They ral- ana Fever a big round of applause. lied behind my good friend—who I’ve had the So yes! I’ve got mine, got my jersey. Here, pleasure of being on the court, and she took it let’s take down the—Coach, do you want to say easy on me—Tamika Catchings, MVP, who something? can now add a WBNA championship to her Coach Dunn. Yes, I do. NCAA championship—three-time Gold Med- The President. Yes, go ahead. [Laughter] alist. And all of you then brought in—home In- Come on. diana’s first professional basketball title since Coach Dunn. Well, first of all, on—I’m a lit- 1973. That’s a long time. tle nervous. I haven’t been to the White House And obviously, the Fever’s incredible season since the fifth grade. [Laughter] inspired your States, inspired your fans. But I The President. Since the fifth grade. was mentioning backstage, WNBA generally Coach Dunn. But on behalf of our owner, inspires a lot of young people. I occasionally Herb Simon, and the great leadership that we coach Sasha’s basketball team, and for her to have at Pacers Sports and Entertainment— have wonderful role models like this who work Rick Fuson, Jim Morris, Kelly Krauskopf—and hard, know how to play like a team, are incred- all of our families and friends that are here to- ibly poised and competitors, but also show day. We just want to thank you so much for in- good sportsmanship, that’s the kind of models viting us here to see the White House, to meet you want for your children. you—that’s really special too, because I’m a So Coach Dunn has 2 years—was 2 years in- Democrat so—[laughter]—and to celebrate to her coaching career when title IX was our championship season, our 2012 champion- passed. Today we’ve got two women’s basket- ship season. ball championships—championship teams And I just want you to know that this is an here in the White House. And that’s a remind- amazing group of women. What they did under er of the incredible progress that we’ve made, just tremendous adversity—they kept fighting thanks to pioneers like Coach Dunn. And so back, they kept fighting back. Nobody expect- 582 Administration of Barack Obama, 2013 / June 14 ed us to win the conference. And certainly no The President. Thank you. Got my ball, got one, none of the reporters—you know all those my hat, got my jersey. I’m set. And I just want people—[laughter]—none of them picked us to say that I might try to recruit Coach Dunn to win and certainly not to upset the defending to run for something. [Laughter] WNBA championship. So not only are they All right, let’s strike the podium, and let’s great players, great people, but they are tre- get a good picture. mendous role models. You’re proud to meet a great group here. So I just want you to know NOTE: The President spoke at 2:50 p.m. in the how special they are. East Room at the White House. In his re- And, Mr. President, the last thing I want to marks, he referred to Herbert Simon, owner, say is, I want to thank you personally, you and chairman, and chief executive officer, Pacers the First Lady, for all you do to empower women. You have no idea. Every day, every Sports & Entertainment; and Katie Douglas, day, you both send a strong message that little guard/forward, Erin Phillips, guard, and Tami- girls can do anything they want to do and they ka Catchings, forward, Indiana Fever.