[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.