[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6380-6381]
[From the U.S. 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 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

[[Page 6381]]

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.

                          ____________________