[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-


[[Page 1398]]

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.