[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 75 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5826-S5827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NOTICE ON AMENDED MINES PROTOCOL--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT--PM 31

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations.

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am gratified that the United States Senate has given its advice and 
consent to the ratification of the Amended Mines Protocol of the 
Convention on Conventional Weapons.

[[Page S5827]]

  The Senate and my Administration, working together, reached agreement 
on a detailed resolution of advice and consent to ratification, 
including 13 conditions covering issues of significant interest and 
concern. I will implement these provisions. I will, of course, do so 
without prejudice to my Constitutional authorities. A condition in a 
resolution of advice and consent to ratification cannot alter the 
allocation of authority and responsibility under the Constitution, for 
both the Congress and the President.
  I am grateful to Majority Leader Lott, Minority Leader Daschle, and 
Senators Helms, Biden, Leahy, and the many others who have assisted in 
this ratification effort. It is clear that the practical result of our 
work together on the Protocol will well serve the critical humanitarian 
interest of protecting civilians from the dangers posed to them by 
landmines, as well as the imperative requirements of ensuring the 
safety and effectiveness of U.S. military forces. In this spirit, I 
express my hope that the Protocol will lead to further sound advances 
in the development of the international law of armed conflict.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, May 24, 1999.

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