[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[November 11, 1992]
[Pages 2163-2164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National 
Emergency Regarding Chemical and Biological Weapons Proliferation
November 11, 1992

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    On November 16, 1990, in light of the dangers of the proliferation 
of chemical and biological weapons, I issued Executive Order No. 12735 
and declared a national emergency under the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.). Under section 202(d) of 
the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), the national emergency 
terminates on the anniversary date of its declaration unless I publish 
in the Federal Register and transmit to the Congress a notice of its 
continuation.
    The proliferation of chemical and biological weapons continues to 
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and 
foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I am hereby advising the 
Congress that the national emergency declared on November 16, 1990, must 
continue in effect beyond November 16, 1992. Accordingly, I have 
extended the national emergency declared in Executive Order No. 12735 
and have sent a notice of extension to the Federal Register for 
publication.
    Section 204 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and 
section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act contain periodic 
reporting requirements regarding activities taken and money spent 
pursuant to an emergency declaration. The following report is make 
pursuant to these provisions.
    The three export control regulations issued under the Enhanced 
Proliferation Control Initiative are fully in force and have been used 
to control the export of items with potential use in chemical or 
biological weapons or unmanned delivery systems for weapons of mass 
destruction.
    Over the last 6 months, the United States has continued to address 
actively in its international diplomatic efforts the problem of the 
proliferation and use of chemical and biological weapons.
    In August 1992, the 39 members of the Conference on Disarmament 
completed work on the Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition to 
banning chemical weapons among parties, the Convention will also require 
parties to restrict, and ultimately cut off, trade in certain chemical 
weapons-related chemicals with non-parties. The Convention will be 
opened for signature in January 1993, and we expect it to enter into 
force in January 1995.
    The membership of the Australia Group of countries cooperating 
against chemical and biological weapons proliferation stands at 22. It 
is anticipated that the group's membership will expand somewhat over

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the next 6 months.
    At the June 1992 Australia Group meeting, all member countries 
agreed to expand the list of identified chemical weapons precursors 
subject to Australia Group controls from 50 to 54, and to impose 
controls on a common list of dual-use chemical equipment that was 
tentatively agreed at the December 1991 meeting. At the same meeting, 
the Australia Group agreed, ad referendum, to a list of biological 
organisms, toxins, and equipment to subject to export controls. We 
expect these lists to be formally adopted at the December 1992 meeting.
    Encouraging progress can also be reported in the steps taken by 
countries outside the Australia Group, including several Eastern 
European countries and Argentina, to establish effective chemical and 
biological export controls comparable to those observed by Australia 
Group members. In December 1992, Hungary will host a seminar on 
Australia Group practices for non-Australia Group members from Eastern 
Europe and the former Soviet Union.
    Finally, the March 31, 1992, report regarding expenditures under the 
declaration of a national emergency to deal with the lapse of the Export 
Administration Act in Executive Order No. 12730 also includes measures 
related to the Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative. Pursuant to 
section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, there were no additional 
expenses directly attributable to the exercise of authorities conferred 
by the declaration of the national emergency.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. 
                        Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                        and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate. This 
                        letter was released by the Office of the Press 
                        Secretary on November 12.