    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 12, 2003]
    [Pages 164-165]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Reporting a Certification Required by the
    Ratification Resolution of the Chemical Weapons Convention
    February 12, 2003

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Consistent with the resolution of advice and consent to ratification
    of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
    Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,
    adopted by the United States Senate on April 24, 1997, I hereby certify
    pursuant to Condition 7(C)(i), Effectiveness of the Australia Group,
    that:
        Australia Group members continue to maintain equally effective or
    more comprehensive controls over the export of: toxic chemicals and
    their precursors; dual-use processing equipment; human, animal, and
    plant pathogens and toxins with potential biological weapons
    applications; and dual-use biological equipment, as that afforded by the
    Australia Group as of April 25, 1997; and
        The Australia Group remains a viable mechanism for limiting the
    spread of chemical and biological weapons-related materials and
    technology, and the effectiveness of the Australia Group has not been
    undermined by changes in membership, lack of compliance with common
    export controls and nonproliferation measures, or the weakening of
    common controls and nonproliferation measures, in force as of April 25,
    1997.
        The factors underlying this certification are described in the
    enclosed statement of justification.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     February 12, 2003.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    February 13.

    [[Page 165]]