Presidential Certification To Waive Application of Restrictions on Assistance to the Government of Serbia and the Government of Montenegro

President Clinton certified to Congress that waiving restrictions on U.S. and international financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro was necessary to achieve a negotiated settlement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This waiver, issued December 19, 2000, followed the democratic election of Vojislav Kostunica in Serbia and aimed to support the new government and prevent a return of Milosevic-era forces.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 1013

Impact dates

Dec 20, 2000
IMF loan vote for FRY post-conflict assistance and FRY membership

Key directives

Certify to Congress that waiver of 1511(b) and (c) is necessary for Bosnia-Herzegovina settlement
Waive application of assistance restrictions to Government of Serbia and Government of Montenegro
Secretary of Defense to transmit determination to Congress and arrange Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Waiver of subsections 1511(b) and (c) takes effect upon certification
IMF loan vote scheduled for December 20, 2000

Near term (90d)

Potential U.S. bilateral assistance to Serbia and Montenegro
U.S. support for FRY membership in international financial institutions

Long term

Consolidation of Kostunica government
Implementation of Dayton Accords
Regional stability in Balkans

Risks & tensions

Timing suggests lame-duck action days before Clinton administration ended
Justification links Serbia/Montenegro assistance to Bosnia settlement, though democratic transition in Serbia was primary driver
Risk that pro-Milosevic forces could regain power if assistance withheld