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.
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