[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 12 (Monday, March 24, 1997)]
[Page 387]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Anniversary of the Sarin Gas Attack in Tokyo, Japan

March 20, 1997

    Two years ago terrorists launched a cowardly chemical attack in 
Tokyo's subways that took 12 lives and injured thousands more. Today we 
join with the people of Japan in remembering their pain and loss.
    This tragic anniversary also reminds us that we must do everything 
possible to protect Americans from the threat of a similar terrorist 
outrage. That includes ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention, a step 
that Japan's Diet took within a month of the attack in Tokyo. And just 
this week, the treaty was submitted to Russia's Duma for ratification. 
We still have not ratified. It would be harmful to our national 
interests if the United States, which led the way in developing this 
treaty, was on the outside, not the inside, when it comes into operation 
on April 29.
    The Chemical Weapons Convention will help to thwart chemical 
terrorists in several important ways. It will eliminate their largest 
potential source of chemical weapons by mandating the destruction of 
existing chemical weapon stockpiles. It will make it more difficult for 
terrorists to gain access to chemicals that can be used to make chemical 
weapons. It will tie the United States into a global intelligence and 
information network that can help provide early warning of terrorist 
plans for a chemical attack. It will give our law enforcement new 
authority at home to investigate and prosecute anyone seeking to acquire 
chemical weapons or to use them against innocent civilians.
    Just as no law prevents every crime, no treaty is foolproof. But the 
Chemical Weapons Convention will help make our citizens more secure. It 
will also help protect our soldiers by requiring member nations to 
destroy their chemical weapons, a step that we are already taking under 
U.S. law.
    These overwhelming benefits explain why America's military leaders 
and Presidents of both parties have strongly supported the ratification 
of this treaty. As we remember the terrible toll that sarin gas took in 
Tokyo 2 years ago, I urge the Senate to help protect our citizens and 
soldiers and strengthen our fight against terror by ratifying the 
Chemical Weapons Convention now.