[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.