Nov. 14, 2005 - Memorandum for the United States Trade Representative Nov. 10,2005

Memorandum for the United States Trade Representative Nov. 10,2005

SUBJECT: Determinations under Section 1106(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 -- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) is seeking to become a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Saudi Arabia has concluded a bilateral agreement with the United States related to Saudi Arabia´s accession to the WTO. Saudi Arabia´s commitments under this bilateral agreement with the United States ensure: (1) that all state trading enterprises, as defined in section 1107(6) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the "Act") (19 U.S.C. 2906(6)), will make (a) purchases that are not for government use and (b) sales in international trade, in accordance with commercial considerations, including price, quality, availability, marketability, and transportation, and (2) that such state trading enterprises will afford U.S. business firms adequate opportunity, in accordance with customary practice, to compete for such purchases and sales.

In accordance with section 1106(a)(1) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 2905(a)(1)), I determine that state trading enterprises account for a significant share of the exports of Saudi Arabia and the goods that compete with imports into Saudi Arabia. Further, I determine that, based on the bilateral agreement that Saudi Arabia has entered into with the United States, information provided and commitments set forth in the Report of the Working Party on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia´s Accession to the WTO, and other information considered in connection with Saudi Arabia´s WTO accession negotiations including information in the United States National Energy Policy report, an affirmative determination under section 1106(a)(2) is not warranted.

The determinations under section 1106(a) are intended solely to further the purpose of section 1106 and are not determinative for the purpose of any other statute or regulation.

You are directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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Nov. 14, 2005 - President Discusses Hurricane Relief with Louisiana Local Officials

President Discusses Hurricane Relief with Louisiana Local Officials Nov. 10,2005

3:40 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Mayor, thanks for coming.

MAYOR NAGIN: Glad to be here.

THE PRESIDENT: And I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and ideas with Don Powell and myself. I appreciate the Commission Chairman for coming and setting out a vision for New Orleans. And I know you´ve been through an awful lot of tough times, and I really appreciate your working with us to help get this city up and running so the great city of New Orleans will rise once again. As I said in my speech, Mr. Mayor, we can´t imagine an America without a New Orleans.

And we´ve got a lot of work to do, but you´re making good progress, and you´re showing strong leadership. I appreciate that.

MAYOR NAGIN: Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

END 3:41 P.M. EST

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Nov. 14, 2005 - The President declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Nov.10,2005

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on October 7-16, 2005.

The President´s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Berkshire, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the counties of Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.

Representing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), R. David Paulison, Acting Director, Department of Homeland Security, named Peter J. Martinasco as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

The Agency said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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Nov. 10, 2005 - President and Mrs. Bush Express Sympathies at Embassy of Jordan

President and Mrs. Bush Express Sympathies at Embassy of Jordan

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for receiving us. We have come to your embassy to express our heartfelt sympathies for the people of Jordan, and for the families who are grieving today because of the murder of innocent people.

I spoke to His Majesty this morning and conveyed these very same thoughts. And during my conversation, as he described the fact that these bombers went into a wedding and killed people there that were there to celebrate life, killed innocent -- the bombers killed innocent women and children, it struck me, Mr. Ambassador, that -- once again, that we face an enemy that has no heart, an enemy that is defiling a great religion, of Islam. Today -- yesterday in Jordan, Muslims died at the hands of these killers simply because they were in the wrong hotel, simply because they wanted to be with their families and enjoy life.

This enemy must be defeated. They have no heart; they have no conscience.

I want to thank you and the good people of Jordan for standing strong against these merciless killers. And we ask for God's blessings on the people of Jordan.

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Nov. 10, 2005 - Message to the Congress of the United States

Message to the Congress of the United States

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. Consistent with this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication, stating that the Iran emergency declared by Executive Order 12170 on November 14, 1979, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2005. The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2004 (69 FR 65513).

Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the January 19, 1981, agreements with Iran is still underway. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, with respect to Iran, beyond November 14, 2005.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 9, 2005.

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Nov. 10, 2005 - Notice Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

Notice Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in Iran. Because our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the January 19, 1981, agreements with Iran is still underway, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2005. Therefore, consistent with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year this national emergency with respect to Iran.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

November 9, 2005.

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Nov. 10, 2005 - Statement on Private Donations for Hurricane Relief in Central America

Statement on Private Donations for Hurricane Relief in Central America.

Three distinguished private-sector leaders have agreed to launch a nationwide effort to encourage private donations for relief and reconstruction in response to the three recent hurricanes that struck Central America. These leaders will work with other Americans to raise awareness and resources to help those in need as a result of these disasters.

The business leaders are: Steve Reinemund, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.; Bob Lane, Chairman and CEO, Deere & Company; and Maria Lagomasino, Former Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Private Bank. On behalf of our country, I am grateful to these leaders for their readiness to take on this important effort.

In the coming days, they will ask Americans to donate directly to a fund set up to provide help to the disaster victims.

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