[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[January 19, 1993]
[Pages 2264-2265]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Nuclear Nonproliferation
January 19, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    I have reviewed the activities of the United States Government 
departments and agencies during calendar year 1992 relating to 
preventing nuclear proliferation, and I am pleased to submit my annual 
report pursuant to section 601(a) of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act 
of 1978 (Public Law 95-242, 22 U.S.C. 3281(a)).
    The accomplishments of the past year provide a fitting capstone to 
this Administration's efforts to stem the spread of nuclear weapons. 
These efforts were provided additional focus on July 13, when I issued a 
statement setting forth a number of initiatives as well as a clear 
framework of guiding principles for our nonproliferation policy.
    Global norms and institutions have strengthened this year. 
Membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has grown to 155, 
including the last declared two nuclear weapon states: France and China. 
The three Baltic states as well as two of the newly-independent states 
have also joined the Treaty, while three others--Ukraine, Belarus, and 
Kazakhstan--committed to do so ``in the shortest possible time.'' The 
United States increased its support for the International Atomic Energy 
Agency, which sought to strengthen its safeguards system in response to 
its experience in Iraq.
    In addressing regional dangers, the United States also joined with 
the international community to continue to 
support efforts to destroy Iraq's nuclear 
weapons program under U.N. Security 
Council resolutions and to press North 
Korea to honor its nonproliferation commitments. Focusing on the Middle 
East, the five permanent members of the 
U.N. Security Council agreed to 
interim guidelines to restrain destabilizing 
transfers of arms and technologies related 
to weapons of mass destruction, while the 
arms control and regional security talks 
provided an unprecedented forum for 
countries in that troubled region to address these issues face to face. 
The United States held talks separately with India and Pakistan in the 
hope of stemming a nuclear

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arms race in South Asia. Meanwhile, the United States has been gratified 
by steps taken by countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa 
to join international nonproliferation regimes.
    We have worked hard to address the proliferation concerns arising 
from the break-up of the Soviet Union and its domination of Eastern 
Europe. With the firm support of the Congress, we are developing 
assistance to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to support the 
safety and security of the dismantlement of nuclear weapons in the 
former Soviet Union. The U.S. has also provided assistance to Russia and 
Ukraine in developing systems for physical protection and material 
accounting and control for materials removed from nuclear warheads. In 
August, U.S. negotiators initialed an agreement to seek recovery of 
highly-enriched uranium from the former Soviet nuclear arsenal and 
dilute it to commercial reactor fuel with no military implications. In 
collaboration with our allies, we fostered the creation of science and 
technology centers in Moscow and Kiev to prevent the outflow of nuclear 
weapons expertise from the former Soviet Union, and provided export 
control and reactor safety assistance to the states of Eastern Europe 
and the former Soviet Union.
    These accomplishments constitute a solid contribution to continuing 
international efforts to stem nuclear proliferation and to promote the 
peace and security of all nations. Nevertheless, proliferation remains a 
significant and growing concern that will require even more attention, 
energy, and resources in the years ahead.
    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.