    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [May 11, 1995]
    [Page 681]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention on Nuclear Safety
    May 11, 1995

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for Senate advice and consent to ratification,
    the Convention on Nuclear Safety done at Vienna on September 20, 1994.
    This Convention was adopted by a Diplomatic Conference convened by the
    International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in June 1994 and was opened
    for signature in Vienna on September 20, 1994, during the IAEA General
    Conference. Secretary of Energy O'Leary signed the Convention for the
    United States on that date. Also transmitted for the information of the
    Senate is the report of the Department of State concerning the
    Convention.
        At the September 1991 General Conference of the IAEA, a resolution
    was adopted, with U.S. support, calling for the IAEA secretariat to
    develop elements for a possible International Convention on Nuclear
    Safety. From 1992 to 1994, the IAEA convened seven expert working group
    meetings, in which the United States participated. The IAEA Board of
    Governors approved a draft text at its meeting in February 1994, after
    which the IAEA convened a Diplomatic Conference attended by
    representatives of more than 80 countries in June 1994. The final text
    of the Convention resulted from that Conference.
        The Convention establishes a legal obligation on the part of Parties
    to apply certain general safety principles to the construction,
    operation, and regulation of land-based civilian nuclear power plants
    under their jurisdiction. Parties to the Convention also agree to submit
    periodic reports on the steps they are taking to implement the
    obligations of the Convention. These reports will be reviewed and
    discussed at review meetings of the Parties, at which each Party will
    have an opportunity to discuss and seek clarification of reports
    submitted by other Parties.
        The United States has initiated many steps to deal with nuclear
    safety, and has supported the effort to develop this Convention. With
    its obligatory reporting and review procedures, requiring Parties to
    demonstrate in international meetings how they are complying with safety
    principles, the Convention should encourage countries to improve nuclear
    safety domestically and thus result in an increase in nuclear safety
    worldwide. I urge the Senate to act expeditiously in giving its advice
    and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    May 11, 1995.