Other Presidential Documents (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345-3349d, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting Director. Sec. 3. Prior Memorandum Superceded. This memorandum supercedes the Presidential Memorandum of March ii, 2003, entitled, "Designation of Officers of the Office of Personnel Manage- ment to Act as Director of the Office of Personnel Management." Sec. 4. Publication. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Fed- eral Register. GEORGE W. BUSH THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, May 5, 2005. Notice of May 5, 2005 Continuation of the National Emergency Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria On May \177, 2004, pursuant to my authority under the International Emer- gency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. \177701-\177706) and the Syria Account- ability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law \17708- \17775), I issued Executive Order \1773338 in which I declared a national emer- gency blocking the property of certain persons and prohibiting the expor- tation or reexportation of certain goods to Syria. I took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, continuing its occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the sta- bilization and reconstruction of Iraq. Because the actions and policies of the Government of Syria continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency declared on May l\177, 2004, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond May \177, 2005. Therefore, in ac- cordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. \177622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency blocking the property of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation or reexportation of certain goods to Syria. 247
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