13th Message to Congress on the U.S. Sinai Support Mission
(May 26, 1981)
To the Congress of the United States:
I am pleased to transmit herewith the Thirteenth Report
of the United States Sinai Support Mission. It covers the Mission's
activities during the six-month period ending April 26, 1982. This report
is provided in accordance with Section 4 of Public Law 94-110 of October
13, 1975.
This is the final report on the Mission's peacekeeping
operations, which ended on April 25, 1982, when Israel completed its
withdrawal from the Sinai and Egyptian sovereignty was reestablished
in accordance with the 1979 Peace Treaty. At that time the Sinai Field
Mission, the Support Mission's overseas arm, relinquished its treaty
verification responsibilities to the new Multinational Force and Observers.
Established by the August 3, 1981, Protocol to the Peace Treaty, the
Multinational Force is now supervising implementation of the Treaty
security arrangements.
The Congress appropriated $5 million for the conclusion
of the Sinai Support Mission's activities in Fiscal Year 1982. By careful
financial and technical planning to minimize its phase-out costs, the
Mission expects to complete its activities at this minimal funding level.
No funds are being requested for Fiscal Year 1983.
The Field Mission's base camp in the Sinai is expected
to be closed by June 1982 and the fixed assets turned over to the Government
of Egypt at that time as authorized in Section 6 of the Special International
Security Assistance Act of 1979 (PL 9635). The movable assets are being
made available to the United States Embassies in Egypt and Israel and
to the Multinational Force and Observers on a non-reimbursable basis
under authorities contained in the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949, as amended (40 USC 511 et seq.). In accordance
with Executive Order 12357 of April 6, 1982, the Sinai Support Mission
will conclude its activities no later than September 30, 1982, at which
time the Department of State will assume responsibility for any residual
actions necessary to complete activities initiated by the Mission.
The Congress and the American people can take pride
in the successful completion of this unique peacekeeping initiative
that combined Government and private sector talents to carry out on
very short notice a sensitive and complex series of missions in an isolated
and distant environment. In meeting these challenges, the men and women
of the Sinai Support and Field Missions have made a major contribution
to our continuing efforts to bring a just and lasting peace to the troubled
Middle East.
RONALD REAGAN
The White House,
May 26, 1982.
Sources: Public Papers of the President |