    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [August 19, 1993]
    [Pages 1397-1398]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on Proliferation of Chemical
    and Biological Weapons
    August 19, 1993

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        On November 16, 1990, in light of the dangers of the proliferation
    of chemical and biological weapons, President Bush 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 the President publishes in the Federal Register
    and transmits to the Congress a notice of its continuation. On November
    11, 1992, the previous Administration extended the emergency, noting
    that 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.
        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. This report is made pursuant to
    those provisions. Additional information on chemical and biological
    weapons proliferation is contained in the report to the Congress
    provided pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and
    Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.
        The United States has continued to control the export of items with
    potential use in chemical or biological weapons or in unmanned delivery
    systems for weapons of mass destruction through the 3 export control
    regulations issued under the Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative.
    The United States has also continued to address the problem of the
    proliferation and use of chemical and biological weapons in its
    international diplomatic efforts.
        In January 1993 the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was opened for
    signature in Paris. In addition to banning chemical weapons among its
    parties, the Convention will also require parties to restrict, and
    ultimately cut off, trade in certain chemical weapons-related chemicals
    with nonparties. The United States was an original signatory of the
    Convention and has sought to encourage other countries to sign as well.
    To date, over 145 nations have signed the CWC, which is expected to
    enter into force in early 1995.
        The United States is playing a leading role in the work of the CWC
    Preparatory Commission, which is meeting in The Hague to work out the
    procedural and administrative details for implementing the Convention.
        The membership of the Australia Group (AG) of countries cooperating
    against chemical and biological weapons proliferation has grown from 22
    to 25, with the group admitting Argentina, Hungary, and Iceland to
    membership at its December 1992 meeting. At the same meeting, all AG-
    member countries agreed to impose ex-

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    port controls on a common list of biological organisms, toxins, and
    equipment.
        In December 1992, Hungary hosted a seminar on Australia Group
    practices for non-Australia Group countries from Eastern Europe and the
    former Soviet Union. The AG plans further outreach programs to
    nonmembers. Progress also was made in the steps taken by countries
    outside the Australia Group to expand chemical weapons export controls.
    India announced that it would control all chemicals on the Chemical
    Weapons Convention schedules even before the CWC enters into force, and
    China indicated that it would do the same.
        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,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.