[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[June 25, 2003]
[Pages 694-695]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 694]]

Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and European Council 
President Konstandinos Simitis and 
European Commission President Romano Prodi on 
the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
June 25, 2003

    Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their 
delivery systems constitutes a major threat to international peace and 
security. The threat is compounded by the interest of terrorists in 
acquiring WMD. This would undermine the foundations of international 
order. We pledge to use all means available to avert WMD proliferation 
and the calamities that would follow.

     We will work together to strengthen the international 
            system of treaties and regimes against the spread of WMD. 
            This implies the development of new regimes, as appropriate, 
            and reinforcement of existing regimes. We will pursue the 
            goal of universal membership of relevant multilateral 
            treaties and agreements.
     We will seek to ensure strict implementation and 
            compliance. We are willing to work with all those who 
            respect international nonproliferation norms; we are 
            committed to dealing effectively with those who ignore them 
            or cheat.
     We will support, when necessary, non-routine inspections.
     We recognize that, if necessary, other measures in 
            accordance with international law may be needed to combat 
            proliferation.
     We will work together to deploy our combined political and 
            diplomatic influence most effectively in support of our 
            nonproliferation objectives.
     We will work together to develop further a common 
            assessment of global proliferation threats.

    We welcome the statement on nonproliferation by European Union Heads 
of State and Government at Thessaloniki and the G8 Declaration of the 
Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. We reaffirm our joint 
commitment to relevant treaties and agreements, in particular the 
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. We will work together in all areas to 
stop and reverse proliferation.
    In particular:

     We will explore ways to make the International Atomic 
            Energy Agency's (IAEA) Safeguards Agreements and Additional 
            Protocols a standard for nuclear cooperation and 
            nonproliferation. We urge all States with nuclear facilities 
            or activities to ratify and implement these Agreements and 
            Protocols without delay. Furthermore, on an urgent and 
            exceptional basis, taking account of the increase in the 
            Agency's workload in this area, we will support an adequate 
            increase in the IAEA safeguards budget to ensure the 
            credibility of the IAEA's verification system.
     We will strengthen both export controls on materials and 
            technologies related to WMD and their delivery systems as 
            well as their enforcement and implementation. We believe 
            that national controls should include criminal penalties for 
            the illegal export, transshipment or brokering of weapons of 
            mass destruction, missile delivery systems, and materials or 
            technology for use in WMD or missile programs. We will work 
            together with like-minded partners to tighten export 
            controls, where necessary providing assistance to create and 
            improve effective, enforceable national export control 
            systems. We agree to introduce catch-all provisions, where 
            appropriate. We will

[[Page 695]]

            share information so as to identify new patterns of 
            procurement by State and non-State actors. We will seek new 
            methods to stop the proliferation trade to and from 
            countries and entities of proliferation concern.
     We will work together in the framework of the Biological 
            and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) to strengthen national 
            control over pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins and, in 
            the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to 
            foster the elimination of all chemical weapons.
     We will strengthen identification, control and interdiction 
            of illegal shipments, including national criminal sanctions 
            against those who contribute to illicit procurement efforts.
     We emphasize the importance of cooperative threat reduction 
            programs with third countries.

    We will cooperate actively to address specific proliferation 
challenges. In particular:

     We condemn North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its 
            failure to comply with the IAEA safeguards agreement, which 
            undermine the nonproliferation regime. We call on North 
            Korea to refrain from any action that would further 
            aggravate the problem. We strongly urge North Korea to 
            visibly, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle that program 
            and to come into full compliance with international 
            nonproliferation obligations, as a fundamental step to 
            facilitate a comprehensive and peaceful solution.
     We express our continuing serious concern at Iran's nuclear 
            program, in particular as regards the pursuit of a full 
            nuclear fuel cycle, as announced by President 
            Khatami. Mohammed We are 
            troubled by the information in the IAEA's report detailing 
            Iran's failures to meet its safeguards obligations, and we 
            fully support ongoing investigation by the IAEA to answer 
            the unresolved questions and concerns identified in that 
            report. Iran must cooperate fully with the IAEA, remedy all 
            failures and answer all questions. It must also sign and 
            implement an Additional Protocol, without delay or 
            conditions, as a significant first step towards addressing 
            those concerns.
     We remain concerned at the pursuit of nuclear, biological 
            and chemical weapons, and missiles for their delivery by a 
            number of other States. We will continue to monitor these 
            closely and to exchange information, including with other 
            concerned States.

    Proliferation is a threat not only to our security, but also to the 
wider international system. We call for a halt to proliferation 
activities in a way that is demonstrable and verifiable. 
Nonproliferation is a global challenge which requires a multifaceted 
solution. We need to tackle it individually and collectively--working 
together and with other partners, including through relevant 
international institutions, in particular those of the United Nations 
system.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.