    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book II)]
    [November 12, 1993]
    [Pages 1975-1976]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Notice on Continuation
    of Emergency Regarding Chemical and Biological Weapons Proliferation
    November 12, 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.

        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, 1993. 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 made
    pursuant to these 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 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.

        During the last 6 months, the United States

    [[Page 1976]]

    has continued to address actively in its international diplomatic
    efforts the problem of the proliferation and use of chemical and
    biological weapons.

        More than 150 nations have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention
    (CWC) and a number already have ratified it. In my speech to the United
    Nations General Assembly on September 27, I called upon all countries,
    including my own, to ratify the Convention quickly so that it may enter
    into force on January 13, 1995. The United States is also 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 United States participated in the Ad Hoc Group of Government
    Experts convened by the Third Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Review
    Conference to identify and examine potential verification measures. The
    consensus final report of the Group is expected to provide the basis for
    further consideration of this issue at a special conference of BWC
    states parties. As part of my new nonproliferation policy, I have
    decided that the United States will promote new measures that provide
    increased transparency of activities that could have biological weapons
    applications to help deter violations of the Convention.

        The membership of the Australia Group (AG) of countries cooperating
    against chemical and biological weapons (CBW) proliferation stands at
    25. At the June 1993 meeting, members agreed to honor each other's
    export license denials for AG-proscribed items (the ``no-undercut''
    policy), thus enhancing the effectiveness of the Group's common export
    controls. At the same meeting, the AG finalized its package of
    comprehensive export controls on biological agents and related
    production equipment and agreed to promote broad contacts with
    nonmembers following all future Australia Group meetings. Members also
    resolved to expand their dialogue about CBW issues with non-member
    countries with a view to encouraging the introduction and implementation
    of effective CBW nonproliferation measures worldwide.

        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.
    The notice is listed in Appendix D at the end of this volume.