Bush waives provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act on PLO office/Memorandum – USDOS press release

Bush Waives Provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act on PLO Office

Administration says waiver important for U.S. national security interests

President Bush extended a waiver to the congressionally mandated downgrade in the status of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Office in the United States with an October 14 memorandum to the secretary of state.

The waiver is effective for 180 days.

The downgrade of the PLO office was mandated in the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987.  Implementation of that provision of the law has been delayed because of U.S. national security interests, according to the memorandum.

Following is the text of the memorandum:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 14, 2005

Presidential Determination

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Waiver and Certification of Statutory Provisions Regarding the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Office

Pursuant to the authority and conditions contained in section 534(d) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-447, as provided for in the Joint Resolution Making Continuing Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Law 109-77), I hereby determine and certify that it is important to the national security interests of the United States to waive the provisions of section 1003 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987, Public Law 100-204.

This waiver shall be effective for a period of 6 months from the date hereof.  You are hereby authorized and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress and to publish it in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH