[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
[March 6, 1995]
[Pages 311-312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation 
Treaty
March 6, 1995

    March 5 marked the 25th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation 
Treaty (NPT). This historic arms control agreement--to which 172 nations 
have now adhered--is the foundation of international efforts to stem the 
spread of nuclear weapons.
    Last week, in a speech at the Nixon Center, I reaffirmed this 
Nation's commitment to the goals and obligations of the NPT. This treaty 
strengthens our security and that of all nations. It creates a 
dependable security environment that makes other arms control and 
disarmament measures possible. For these reasons, the United States 
strongly supports universal NPT membership.
    Six weeks from now, an international conference in New York will 
consider extension of the NPT. The United States is firmly committed to 
the indefinite extension of the NPT without conditions. We will work 
closely with other parties to the treaty to achieve this objective.
    The indefinite and unconditional extension of the NPT tops an 
ambitious global arms control agenda. Implementation of the START I 
treaty is already yielding dramatic reductions in nuclear forces. We 
seek early ratification of START II and the Chemical Weapons Convention. 
We have taken steps to accelerate the conclusion of a Comprehensive Test 
Ban Treaty and are pushing for a global ban on the production of fissile 
material for weapons. We seek to strengthen the Biological and Toxin 
Weapons Convention. These and other steps will significantly reduce the 
nuclear threat to America's cities and citizens.

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