[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 3 (Monday, January 25, 1993)]
[Pages 62-63]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting the Report on Science, 
Technology, and American Diplomacy

 January 19, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)

    In accordance with Title V of the Foreign Relations Act of Fiscal 
Year 1979, as amended (Public Law 95-426; 22 U.S.C. 2656c(b)), I am 
pleased to transmit this annual report on Science, Technology and 
American Diplomacy for fiscal year 1992.
    This is the first Title V report in which the entire period of 
coverage falls within the post-Cold War era, and a number of trends 
important to international science and technology (S&T) have become 
evident. As traditional Cold War concerns fade, the character and impact 
of S&T in U.S. foreign policy are also changing significantly. The 
importance of S&T in addressing problems such as environmental 
degradation and international economic and technological competitiveness 
will grow. At the same time, S&T will continue to be important to 
traditional military concerns and in areas of increasing importance 
following the demise of the Soviet Union, such as proliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction.
    The material presented in this report illustrates the significant 
role of S&T in American diplomacy and the tremendous changes in its 
character and impact following the end of the Cold War. This year's 
report focuses on three topical areas: S&T interactions with the Newly 
Independent States and the Baltics; the United Nations Conference on 
Environment and Development (UNCED); and a number of very big 
(``megascience'') programs, including illustrative space activities. The 
report also features narratives on 22 selected countries and 3 
international organizations (the European Community, NATO, and the 
OECD).
    As the definitive annual official reference on U.S. Government 
international S&T agreements and activities, this Title V report:
<bullet>    Reviews a number of salient international S&T themes and 
            issues, chosen by consensus in the executive branch;
<bullet>    Illustrates by means of both narratives and an extensive 
            data base an in-depth review of U.S. Government activities 
            in the chosen thematic areas; and
<bullet>    Provides, via the data base, a comprehensive overview of 
            official U.S. Government international S&T activities in all 
            areas.
    In early 1991, I enunciated five major interrelated foreign policy 
challenges and objectives in the post-Cold War era:
    1) promoting and consolidating democratic values;

[[Page 63]]

    2) promoting market principles and strengthening U.S. 
      competitiveness;
    3) promoting peace;
    4) protecting against transnational threats such as environmental 
      degradation; and
    5) meeting urgent humanitarian needs.
The importance of S&T to achieving all five goals is seen clearly in the 
thematic areas that are the focus of this report.
    Science and Technology Interactions with the Newly Independent 
States and the Baltics: U.S. S&T efforts in the former Soviet Union and 
Baltics have focused on forging new S&T links, assisting in military S&T 
conversion and the meeting environmental, health, energy and other 
needs, and helping to maintain a sound S&T infrastructure. A collapse of 
the former Soviet scientific community would greatly endanger 
sustainable progress toward open societies and market economics and 
would increase the risk of weapons proliferation. Building a strong S&T 
infrastructure will help provide a solid foundation for a stable 
transition away from Communist rule and centrally planned economies.
    United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: Science 
and technology are critical tools in protecting against transnational 
threats such as global change, ozone depletion, and loss of biological 
diversity. Communication and cooperation in the international S&T 
community provided the basis for UNCED preparations and the three 
principal documents it produced, the Rio Declaration on Environment and 
Development, Agenda 21, and a statement of principles for the 
management, conservation, and sustainable use of forests. The convention 
on global change, opened at UNCED for signature, is based on the results 
of an extensive international S&T effort.
    Megascience Programs: The scientific facilities needed to pursue 
ever more fundamental questions about the nature of the universe are 
growing larger and more complex. As the costs associated with scientific 
research rise, maintaining national intellectual and technological 
competence in forefront areas requiring large facilities or global-scope 
research will increasingly require international collaboration. By 
sharing the burdens of supporting megascience projects, nations produce 
fundamental knowledge not possible to attain unilaterally.
    The thematic focus of this report illustrates the critical role of 
S&T in meeting our major foreign policy challenges. These challenges 
transcend partisan political differences and will, I believe, continue 
to permeate U.S. foreign policy into the next century.
    Sincerely,
                                                   George Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives; Claiborne Pell, chairman, Senate Committee on 
Foreign Relations; and John Glenn, chairman, Senate Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.