[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 45 (Monday, November 15, 1993)]
[Pages 2338-2339]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Chemical and Biological Weapons 
Proliferation

 November 12, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    On November 16, 1990, in light of the dangers of the proliferation 
of chemical and biological weapons, President Bush issued Executive 
Order No. 12735 and declared a national emergency under the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 
Under section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 
1622(d)), the national emergency terminates on the anniversary date of 
its declaration unless the President publishes in the Federal Register 
and transmits to the Congress a notice of its continuation.
    The proliferation of chemical and biological weapons continues to 
pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and 
foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I am hereby advising the 
Congress that the national emergency declared on November 16, 1990, must 
continue in effect beyond November 16, 1993. Accordingly, I have 
extended the national emergency declared in Executive Order No. 12735 
and have sent a notice of extension to the Federal Register for 
publication.
    Section 204 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and 
section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act contain periodic 
reporting requirements regarding activities taken and money spent 
pursuant to an emergency declaration. The following report is made 
pursuant to these provisions. Additional information on chemical and 
biological weapons proliferation is contained in the report to the 
Congress provided pursuant to the Chemical and Biological Weapons 
Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991.
    The three export control regulations issued under the Enhanced 
Proliferation Control Initiative are fully in force and have been used 
to control the export of items with potential use in chemical or 
biological weapons or unmanned delivery systems for weapons of mass 
destruction.
    During the last 6 months, the United States has continued to address 
actively in

[[Page 2339]]

its international diplomatic efforts the problem of the proliferation 
and use of chemical and biological weapons.
    More than 150 nations have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention 
(CWC) and a number already have ratified it. In my speech to the United 
Nations General Assembly on September 27, I called upon all countries, 
including my own, to ratify the Convention quickly so that it may enter 
into force on January 13, 1995. The United States is also playing a 
leading role in the work of the CWC Preparatory Commission, which is 
meeting in The Hague to work out the procedural and administrative 
details for implementing the Convention.
    The United States participated in the Ad Hoc Group of Government 
Experts convened by the Third Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Review 
Conference to identify and examine potential verification measures. The 
consensus final report of the Group is expected to provide the basis for 
further consideration of this issue at a special conference of BWC 
states parties. As part of my new nonproliferation policy, I have 
decided that the United States will promote new measures that provide 
increased transparency of activities that could have biological weapons 
applications to help deter violations of the Convention.
    The membership of the Australia Group (AG) of countries cooperating 
against chemical and biological weapons (CBW) proliferation stands at 
25. At the June 1993 meeting, members agreed to honor each other's 
export license denials for AG-proscribed items (the ``no-undercut'' 
policy), thus enhancing the effectiveness of the Group's common export 
controls. At the same meeting, the AG finalized its package of 
comprehensive export controls on biological agents and related 
production equipment and agreed to promote broad contacts with 
nonmembers following all future Australia Group meetings. Members also 
resolved to expand their dialogue about CBW issues with non-member 
countries with a view to encouraging the introduction and implementation 
of effective CBW nonproliferation measures worldwide.
    Pursuant to section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, there 
were no additional expenses directly attributable to the exercise of 
authorities conferred by the declaration of the national emergency.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate.