[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING AMENDED MINES PROTOCOL OF CONVENTION ON 
 CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

  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, without objection, referred to the 
Committee on International Relations:

To the Congress of the United States:
  In accordance with the resolution of advice and consent to 
ratification of the Amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on 
the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices, together with its 
Technical Annex, adopted by the Senate of the United States on May 20, 
1999, I hereby certify that:
  In connection with Condition (1)(B), Pursuit Deterrent Munition, the 
Pursuit Deterrent Munition shall continue to remain available for use 
by the United States Armed Forces at least until January 1, 2003, 
unless an effective alternative to the munition becomes available.
  In connection with Condition (6), Land Mine Alternatives, in pursuing 
alternatives to United States anti-personnel mines or mixed anti-tank 
systems, I will not limit the types of alternatives to be considered on 
the basis of any criteria other than those specified in the sentence 
that follows. In pursuit of alternatives to United States anti-
personnel mines, or mixed anti-tank systems, the United States shall 
seek to identify, adapt, modify, or otherwise develop only those 
technologies that (i) are intended to provide military effectiveness 
equivalent to that provided by the relevant anti-personnel mine, or 
mixed anti-tank system; and (ii) would be affordable.
  In connection with Condition (7), Certification with Regard to 
International Tribunals, with respect to the Amended Mines Protocol, 
the Convention on Conventional Weapons, or any future protocol or 
amendment thereto, the United States shall not recognize the 
jurisdiction of any international tribunal over the United States or 
any of its citizens.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, May 24, 1999.

                          ____________________