[House Document 111-6]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



111th Congress, 1st Session - -  - - - - - - - - - House Document 111-6

 
    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NEW NATO PARTIES ON THE 
                    PROVISION OF ATOMIC INFORMATION

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              TRANSMITTING

  THE TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC 
   TREATY FOR CO-OPERATION REGARDING ATOMIC INFORMATION, INCLUDING A 
TECHNICAL ANNEX AND SECURITY ANNEX, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 123 AND 144 b. 
                  OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, AS AMENDED

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  January 13, 2009.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
    I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, consistent with 
sections 123 and 144 b. of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 2153 and 2164(b)), the text of the Agreement between 
the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for Co-operation 
Regarding Atomic Information, including a technical annex and 
security annex (hereinafter collectively referred to as the 
ATOMAL Agreement), as a proposed agreement for cooperation 
within the context of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) between the United States of America and each of the 
following seven new members of NATO: the Republic of Bulgaria, 
the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic 
of Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of 
Slovenia, hereinafter the ``New Parties.'' I am also pleased to 
transmit my approval, authorization, and determination 
concerning the ATOMAL Agreement with respect to the New 
Parties, together with a copy of the memorandum of the 
Secretary of Defense with respect to the agreement. The ATOMAL 
Agreement entered into force on March 12, 1965, with respect to 
the United States and the other NATO members at that time. The 
Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of 
Poland, and Spain subsequently became parties to the ATOMAL 
Agreement. The New Parties have signed this agreement and have 
indicated their willingness to be bound by it. The ATOMAL 
Agreement with respect to the New Parties meets the 
requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. 
While the ATOMAL Agreement continues in force with respect to 
the United States and the other current parties to it, it will 
not become effective as an agreement for cooperation 
authorizing the exchange of atomic information with respect to 
the New Parties until completion of procedures prescribed by 
sections 123 and 144 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended.
    For more than 40 years, the ATOMAL Agreement has served as 
the framework within which NATO and the other NATO members that 
have become parties to this agreement have received the 
information that is necessary to an understanding and knowledge 
of and participation in the political and strategic consensus 
upon which the collective military capacity of the Alliance 
depends. This agreement permits only the transfer of atomic 
information, not weapons, nuclear material, or equipment. 
Participation in the ATOMAL Agreement will give Bulgaria, 
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia the 
same standing within the Alliance with regard to nuclear 
matters as that of the other current parties to the ATOMAL 
Agreement. This is important for the cohesiveness of the 
Alliance and will enhance its effectiveness.
    I have considered the views and recommendations of the 
Department of Defense and other interested agencies in 
reviewing the ATOMAL Agreement and have determined that its 
performance, including the proposed cooperation and the 
proposed communication of Restricted Data thereunder, with 
respect to the New Parties will promote, and will not 
constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and 
security. Accordingly, I have approved the ATOMAL Agreement 
with respect to the New Parties and authorized the Department 
of Defense to cooperate with the New Parties in the context of 
NATO upon satisfaction of the requirements of section 123 of 
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
    The 60-day continuous session period provided for in 
section 123 begins upon receipt of this submission.
                                                    George W. Bush.
    The White House, January 9, 2009.
  
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