    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [January 9, 2009]
    [Pages 1544-1545]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Transmitting Provision of Atomic Information to
    Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia
    January 9, 2009

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, consistent with sections
    123 and 144 b. of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153 and
    2164(b)), the text of the Agreement between the Parties to the North
    Atlantic Treaty for Co-operation Regarding Atomic Information, including
    a technical annex and security annex (hereinafter collectively referred
    to as the ATOMAL Agreement), as a proposed agreement for cooperation
    within the context of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
    between the United States of America and each of the following seven new
    members of NATO: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Estonia, the
    Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, Romania, the Slovak
    Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia, hereinafter the ``New Parties.''
    I am also pleased to transmit my approval, authorization, and
    determination concerning the ATOMAL Agreement with respect to the New
    Parties, together with a copy of the memorandum of the Secretary of
    Defense with respect to the agreement. The ATOMAL Agreement entered into
    force on March 12, 1965, with respect to the United States and the other
    NATO members at that time. The Czech Republic, the Republic of Hungary,
    the Republic of Poland, and Spain subsequently became parties to the
    ATOMAL Agreement. The New Parties have signed this agreement and have
    indicated their willingness to be bound by it. The ATOMAL Agreement with
    respect to the New Parties meets the requirements of the Atomic Energy
    Act of 1954, as amended. While the ATOMAL Agreement continues in force
    with respect to the United States and the other current parties to it,
    it will not become effective as an agreement for cooperation authorizing
    the exchange of atomic information with respect to the New Parties until
    completion of procedures prescribed by sections 123 and 144 b. of the
    Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
        For more than 40 years, the ATOMAL Agreement has served as the
    framework within which NATO and the other NATO members that have become
    parties to this agreement have received the information that is
    necessary to an understanding and knowledge of and participation in the
    political and strategic consensus upon which the collective military
    capacity of the Alliance depends. This agreement permits only the
    transfer of atomic information, not weapons, nuclear material, or
    equipment. Participation in the ATOMAL Agreement will give Bulgaria,
    Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia the same
    standing within the Alliance with regard to nuclear matters as that of
    the other current parties to the ATOMAL Agreement. This is important for
    the cohesiveness of the Alliance and will enhance its effectiveness.
        I have considered the views and recommendations of the Department of
    Defense and other interested agencies in reviewing the ATOMAL Agreement
    and have determined that its performance, including the proposed
    cooperation and the proposed communication of Restricted Data
    thereunder, with respect to the New Parties will promote, and will not
    constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security.
    Accordingly, I have approved the ATOMAL Agreement with respect to the
    New Parties and authorized the Department of Defense to cooperate with
    the New Parties in the context of NATO upon satisfaction of the
    requirements of section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
    amended.

    [[Page 1545]]

        The 60-day continuous session period provided for in section 123
    begins upon receipt of this submission.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     January 9, 2009.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 12.