ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationClinton · D

Presidential Determination

Assistance Program for New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union

President Clinton certified to Congress that Russia and the CIS continue making substantial progress withdrawing armed forces from Latvia and Estonia, satisfying a statutory condition to maintain U.S. assistance programs for the former Soviet states. The certification keeps Section 577 of the 1994 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act in force, pending full withdrawal or mutual resolution. The accompanying justification details bilateral progress, residual issues around demobilized personnel, and diplomatic normalization between Russia and the Baltic states.

Federal Register Open PDF 60 FR 65505

Impact dates

  1. Estonian Parliament completion of three readings for ratification of troop withdrawal agreements

  2. Russia committed to repatriate 401 former military personnel from Latvia

Key directives

  • Certify substantial progress on Russian/CIS troop withdrawal from Latvia and Estonia under Section 577
  • Notify Congress of certification
  • Publish certification in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Certification transmitted to Congress and published in Federal Register
  • Section 577 assistance authority continues

Near term (90d)

  • Russian commitment to repatriate 401 former military personnel from Latvia by end of 1995
  • Estonian Parliament to complete ratification process for troop withdrawal agreements (package passed first reading November 29, 1995)

Long term

  • Full Russian/CIS troop withdrawal from Latvia and Estonia, or mutual agreement on status
  • Resolution of demobilized personnel status through case-by-case review
  • Estonian-Russian border agreement finalization
  • Baltic states' integration into European institutions

Risks & tensions

  • Residual demobilized personnel issues are 'political and social rather than military' but remain unresolved
  • Estonian government resignation delayed ratification timetable
  • Lack of precise data on demobilized troops creates ambiguity in implementation
  • Humanitarian concerns complicate repatriation vs. residence decisions
  • Latvia alleges 163 additional illegal residents outside Russian-submitted lists
Presidential Determination: Assistance Program for New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union · Executive Orders