• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

                            THE WHITE HOUSE
                     Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                   October 11, 2000
                       STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I have signed a proclamation suspending the entry into the United
States, as immigrants and non-immigrants, of all persons -- and the
spouses, children, and parents of all persons - who plan, engage in, or
benefit from activities that support the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), or that otherwise impede the peace process in Sierra Leone. These
visa restrictions will immediately apply to President Charles Taylor,
senior members of the Government of Liberia, their closest supporters,
and their family members.
I call upon the Liberian government to end immediately Liberia's
trafficking in weapons and illicit diamonds, which fuels the war in
Sierra Leone, and instead to use its influence with the RUF to restore
peace and stability to Sierra Leone.  Members of my Administration have
repeatedly made this request of President Taylor.  The absence of any
positive response from his government leaves us little choice but to
impose these restrictions.  Only when the Government of Liberia ends its
participation in activities that support the RUF will the United States
review this policy.
                                 # # #