ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationG.W. Bush · R

Presidential Determination

Security Assistance to East Timor: Certification and Report Pursuant to Section 637(a)(2) of the Foreign Relations

President Bush certified that East Timor had established independent armed forces and that providing U.S. military assistance—including excess defense articles and international military education and training—served U.S. national security interests and would promote human rights and military professionalization in East Timor. The Secretary of State was directed to report this certification to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 16167

Impact dates

  1. Report certification to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Key directives

  • Certify East Timor's independent armed forces status
  • Certify military assistance is in U.S. national security interests
  • Direct Secretary of State to report certification to Congress
  • Direct Secretary of State to arrange Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Certification takes effect upon signing
  • Secretary of State authorized to report to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

  • Ongoing military assistance relationship with East Timor
  • Human rights and professionalization objectives for East Timor armed forces

Risks & tensions

  • Human rights certification requirement suggests congressional concern about military abuses; actual compliance monitoring unclear from text
  • Excess defense articles transfers can include used equipment with limited utility, raising questions about genuine security benefit versus disposal of U.S. surplus
Presidential Determination: Security Assistance to East Timor: Certification and Report Pursuant to Section 637(a)(2) of the Foreign Relations · Executive Orders