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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 1, 1999

FACT SHEET

New Sanctions Against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

During the Washington Summit April 23-25, NATO allies agreed to intensify economic sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and maximize the pressure on President Slobodan Milosevic to accept NATO's conditions for securing a durable peace in Kosovo. These sanctions reinforce the military action NATO has undertaken to reverse the ethnic cleansing campaign waged by Serbian security and paramilitary forces against the Kosovar Albanians.

To implement this agreement, President Clinton signed an Executive Order on April 30, 1999, which strengthens sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). This Executive Order adds to the measures already in place under Executive Order 13088, which entered into effect on June 9, 1999.

The sanctions consist of:

The blocking of all property and interests in property of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Serbia, and Montenegro;
A general ban on all U.S. exports and reexports to and imports from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), including specifically the export of petroleum and strategic goods; and
The elimination of loopholes by strengthened provisions on evasion.

The current exemption from Montenegro will remain in force, reflecting the strong U.S. support for the democratically-elected, multi-ethnic government of that republic. Special consideration will also be given to the humanitarian needs of refugees from Kosovo and other civilians within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Finally, the Executive Order provides appropriate licensing authority for sales of food and medicine, consistent with the President's April 28 announcement.

The State Department continues to enforce an embargo against the shipment of arms and related materiel to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) under the Arms Export Control Act.

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