[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY FOR 
COOPERATION REGARDING ATOMIC INFORMATION--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF 
                 THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 113-64)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together 
with the 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 Cooperation Regarding Atomic Information, including 
a technical annex and security annex (hereinafter collectively referred 
to as the ``ATOMAL Agreement''), as a proposed agreement for 
cooperation authorizing the exchange of U.S. Restricted Data and 
Formerly Restricted Data within the context of the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) between the United States of America and the 
following member of NATO: the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter the 
``New Party'').
  In addition, I am pleased to transmit my written approval, 
authorization, and determination concerning the ATOMAL Agreement with 
respect to the New Party, 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, Spain, 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 subsequently became parties to the ATOMAL 
Agreement. The New Party has signed this agreement and has indicated 
its willingness to be bound by it. The ATOMAL Agreement with respect to 
the New Party meets the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
as amended. Although 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 Party 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 the New 
Party 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 (DOD) 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 Party, 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 Party and authorized the DOD to cooperate with the New Party 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.
                                                        Barack Obama.  
The White House, September 18, 2013.

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