in Russia WASHINGTON, June 18 (KUNA) -- The White House announced on Monday the continuation of the national emergency with respect to the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of weapons-usable missile material in Russia.
"It remains a major national security goal of the United States to ensure that fissile material removed from Russian nuclear weapons pursuant to various arms control and disarmament agreements is dedicated to peaceful uses, subject to transparency measures, and protected from diversion to activities of proliferation concern", said President Barack Obama in a letter to Congress.
"The accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States", he added.
"For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to the risk of nuclear proliferation created by the accumulation of a large volume of weapons-usable fissile material in the territory of the Russian Federation and maintain in force these emergency authorities to respond to this threat, concluded Obama in the letter.
On June 21, 2000, the White House issued Executive Order 13159 blocking property and interests in property of the Russian Government in the United States related to this end.
The White House noted in a statement that "the national emergency declared on June 21, 2000, must continue beyond June 21, 2012, to provide continued protection from attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process for the property and interests in property of the Government of the Russian Federation that are directly related to the implementation of the HEU Agreements and subject to US jurisdiction".
This national emergency was extended by Obama for an additional year. (end) jm.bs KUNA 182310 Jun 12NNNN