    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [March 16, 2000]
    [Pages 478-479]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Videotaped Remarks to the Carnegie Endowment's Annual Nonproliferation
    Conference
    March 16, 2000

        I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Carnegie
    Endowment's Annual Nonproliferation Conference. I thank you for coming
    together again to focus on the crucial task of curbing the spread of
    weapons of mass destruction. All of you know how serious this challenge
    is, from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, to ongoing risks
    that sensitive materials and technologies will spread from the former
    Soviet Union, including to Iran, to the imperative of bringing China
    into global nonproliferation regimes, to the continuing need for
    vigilance against Saddam Hussein.
        Stemming this tide has been a critical priority for me for 7 years
    now, and it will be for this year, as well. In a few days, I'll travel
    to South Asia. There are those in the region who hope we will simply
    accept its nuclear status quo and move on. I will not do that. India and
    Pakistan have legitimate security concerns. But I will make clear our
    view that a nuclear future is a dangerous future for them and for the
    world. And I'll stress that narrowing our differences on
    nonproliferation is important to moving toward a broader relationship.
        I know there are some who have never seen an arms control agreement
    they like, because rules can be violated, because perfect verification
    is impossible, because we can't always count on others to keep their
    word. Still, I believe we must work to broaden and strengthen verifiable
    arms agreements. The alternative is a world with no rules, no
    verification, and no trust at all.
        It would be foolish to rely on treaties alone to protect our
    security. But it would also be foolish to throw away the tools that
    sound treaties do offer: a more predictable security environment,
    monitoring inspections, the ability to shine a light on threatening
    behavior and mobilize the entire world against it. So this year we will
    work to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention. We'll increase
    momentum for universal adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
    Treaty. And as to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, I am determined
    that last year's unfortunate Senate vote will not be America's last
    word.
        With the leadership of General Shalikashvili, we will work hard this year to build bipartisan support
    for ratification. I will continue to call on other nations to forgo
    testing and join the treaty. We must not lose the chance to end nuclear
    testing forever. We must also take the next essential step, a treaty to
    cut off production of fissile material.
        I know this conference will assess the potential impact of our
    program directed at emerging missile threats, such as from North Korea,
    Iran, and Iraq. I've stressed that a U.S. decision on a limited missile
    defense will take into account not only the threat, feasibility, and
    cost but also the overall impact on our security and arms control.
        The ABM Treaty remains important to our security. Today, dealing
    with dangerous new missile threats is also vital to global security. So
    we will continue to work with Russia on

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    how to amend the treaty to permit limited defenses while keeping its
    central protections, and we'll continue to seek a START III treaty that
    will cut our strategic arsenals to 20 percent of their cold war levels.
        Let me conclude by wishing you a productive meeting. I value your
    advice. I count on your dedication, and I thank you for all you're doing
    to build a safer world.

    Note: The President's remarks were videotaped at approximately 11:50
    a.m. on March 10 in Room 459 in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive
    Office Building for later broadcast. The transcript was released by the
    Office of the Press Secretary on March 16. A tape was not available for
    verification of the content of these remarks.