    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [March 4, 2004]
    [Pages 323-324]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting a Protocol to the Indonesia-United
    States Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
    March 4, 2004

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, consistent with sections
    123 b. and 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42
    U.S.C. 2153(b), (d)) (the ``Act''), the text of a proposed Protocol
    Amending the Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the
    United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia
    Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, signed at Washington on June
    30, 1980. I also transmit my written approval, authorization, and
    determination concerning the Protocol, and an unclassified Nuclear
    Proliferation Assessment Statement (NPAS) concerning the Protocol.
    (Consistent with section 123 of the Act, as amended by title XII of the
    Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-
    277), a classified Annex to the NPAS, prepared by the Secretary of
    State in consultation with the

    [[Page 324]]

    Director of Central Intelligence,
    summarizing relevant classified information, will be submitted to the
    Congress separately.) The joint memorandum submitted to me by the
    Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy and a letter from the Chairman of the Nuclear
    Regulatory Commission stating the views of the
    Commission are also enclosed.
        I am advised that the proposed Protocol has been negotiated
    consistent with the Act and other applicable law and that it meets all
    statutory requirements. This Protocol will advance the nonproliferation
    and other foreign policy interests of the United States.
        The Protocol amends the Agreement for Cooperation Between the
    Government of the United States of America and the Government of the
    Republic of Indonesia Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in two
    respects:
        1. It extends the Agreement, which expired by its terms on December
    30, 2001, until December 30, 2031, with effect from the former date; and
        2. It updates certain provisions of the Agreement relating to the
    physical protection of nuclear material subject to the Agreement.
        As amended by the proposed Protocol, the Agreement will continue to
    meet all requirements of U.S. law.
        Indonesia is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
    Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and has an agreement with the IAEA for the
    application of full-scope safeguards to its nuclear program. It was also
    among the early sponsors of, and is a current party to, the Southeast
    Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. The United States and Indonesia have had
    a long and positive history of cooperation in the peaceful uses of
    nuclear energy, with our earliest agreement for this purpose dating back
    to 1960.
        I have considered the views and recommendations of the interested
    agencies in reviewing the proposed Protocol and have determined that its
    performance will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk
    to, the common defense and security. Accordingly, I have approved the
    Protocol and authorized its execution and urge that the Congress give it
    favorable consideration.
        This transmission shall constitute a submittal for purposes of both
    sections 123 b. and 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act. My Administration
    is prepared to begin immediately the consultations with the Senate
    Foreign Relations Committee and House International Relations Committee
    consistent with section 123 b. Upon completion of the 30-day continuous
    session period provided for in section 123 b., the 60-day continuous
    session period provided for in section 123 d. shall commence.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     March 4, 2004.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 5. An original was not available for verification of the content
    of this message.