[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 11 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Pages 566-567]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Videotape Remarks to the Carnegie Endowment's Annual Nonproliferation 
Conference

March 16, 2000

    I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Carnegie 
Endowment's Annual Nonproliferation Conference. I thank you for coming 
together again to focus on the crucial task of curbing the spread of 
weapons of mass destruction. All of you know how serious this challenge 
is, from North Korea's nuclear and missile programs to ongoing risks 
that sensitive materials and technologies will spread from the former 
Soviet Union, including to Iran, to the imperative of bringing China 
into global nonproliferation regimes, to the continuing need for 
vigilance against Saddam Hussein.
    Stemming this tide has been a critical priority for me for 7 years 
now, and it will be for this year, as well. In a few days, I'll travel 
to South Asia. There are those in the region who hope we will simply 
accept its nuclear status quo and move on. I will not do that. India and 
Pakistan have legitimate security concerns. But I will make clear our 
view that a nuclear future is a dangerous future for them and for the 
world. And I'll stress that narrowing our differences on 
nonproliferation is important to moving toward a broader relationship.
    I know there are some who have never seen an arms control agreement 
they like, because rules can be violated, because perfect verification 
is impossible, because we can't always count on others to keep their 
word. Still, I believe we must work to broaden and strengthen verifiable 
arms agreements. The alternative is a world with no rules, no 
verification, and no trust at all.
    It would be foolish to rely on treaties alone to protect our 
security. But it would also be foolish to throw away the tools that 
sound treaties do offer: a more predictable security environment, 
monitoring inspections, the ability to shine a light on threatening 
behavior and mobilize the entire world against it. So this year we will 
work to strengthen the

[[Page 567]]

Biological Weapons Convention. We'll increase momentum for universal 
adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And as to the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, I am determined that last year's 
unfortunate Senate vote will not be America's last word.
    With the leadership of General Shalikashvili, we will work hard this 
year to build bipartisan support for ratification. I will continue to 
call on other nations to forgo testing and join the treaty. We must not 
lose the chance to end nuclear testing forever. We must also take the 
next essential step, a treaty to cut off production of fissile material.
    I know this conference will assess the potential impact of our 
program directed at emerging missile threats, such as from North Korea, 
Iran, and Iraq. I've stressed that a U.S. decision on a limited missile 
defense will take into account not only the threat, feasibility, and 
cost but also the overall impact on our security and arms control.
    The ABM Treaty remains important to our security. Today, dealing 
with dangerous new missile threats is also vital to global security. So 
we will continue to work with Russia on how to amend the treaty to 
permit limited defenses while keeping its central protections, and we'll 
continue to seek a START III treaty that will cut our strategic arsenals 
to 20 percent of their cold war levels.
    Let me conclude by wishing you a productive meeting. I value your 
advice. I count on your dedication, and I thank you for all you're doing 
to build a safer world.

Note: The address was videotaped at approximately 11:50 a.m. on March 10 
in Room 459 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building for 
later broadcast, and it was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on March 16. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.