[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 57 (Monday, May 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2584-S2585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NOS. 112-2 AND 112-3

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaties transmitted to the Senate on May 2, 2011, by the President of 
the United States:
  Protocols 1, 2, and 3 to the South Pacific Free Zone Treaty, which is 
document No. 112-2. Protocols I and II, to the African Nuclear-Weapon-
Free Zone Treaty, document No. 112-3.
  I further ask that the treaties be considered as having been read the 
first time; that they be referred, with accompanying papers, to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the 
President's messages in regard to both be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The messages of the President are as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith Protocols I and II to the African 
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (``the Treaty''), signed on behalf of 
the United States at Cairo, Egypt, on April 11, 1996. I also transmit 
for the information of the Senate the Treaty to which these Protocols 
relate, a third Protocol to the Treaty, and the Department of State's 
Overview of the Protocols, which includes a detailed article-by-article 
analysis of both the Protocols and the Treaty.
  I am convinced that it is in the best interest of the United States 
to ratify Protocols I and II to the Treaty. This

[[Page S2585]]

step will strengthen our relations with our African friends and allies, 
enhance U.S. security by furthering our global nonproliferation and 
arms control objectives, demonstrate our commitment to the decisions 
taken at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the 
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and contribute 
significantly to the realization of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free 
Zone in all its aspects. As the Department of State's Overview of the 
Protocols explains, entry into force of Protocols I and II for the 
United States would require no changes in U.S. law, policy, or 
practice.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
Protocols I and II to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, and 
give its advice and consent to their ratification, subject to the 
statements contained in the Department of State's Overview of the 
Protocols.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 2, 2011.
                                  ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith Protocols 1, 2, and 3 to the South 
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (``the Treaty''), signed on behalf of 
the United States at Suva on March 25, 1996. I also transmit for the 
information of the Senate the Treaty to which these Protocols relate 
and the Department of State's Overview of the Protocols, which includes 
a detailed article-by-article analysis of both the Protocols and the 
Treaty.
  Ratification of Protocols 1, 2, and 3 to the Treaty would fully 
support U.S. nonproliferation policy and goals, and I am convinced that 
it is in the best interest of the United States to ratify these 
Protocols. This step will strengthen our relations with our South 
Pacific friends and allies and enhance U.S. security by furthering our 
global nonproliferation and arms control objectives. As the Overview of 
the Department of State explains, entry into force of Protocols 1, 2, 
and 3 for the United States would require no changes in U.S. law, 
policy, or practice.
  I recommend that the Senate give favorable consideration to Protocols 
1, 2, and 3 to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and give its 
advice and consent to their ratification, subject to the statements 
described in the Overview of the Department of State.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, May 2, 2011.

                          ____________________