[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 44 (Monday, November 5, 2001)]
[Page 1580]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Strengthening the International Regime Against Biological 
Weapons

November 1, 2001

    Disease has long been the deadliest enemy of mankind. Infectious 
diseases make no distinctions among people and recognize no borders. We 
have fought the causes and consequences of disease throughout history 
and must continue to do so with every available means. All civilized 
nations reject as intolerable the use of disease and biological weapons 
as instruments of war and terror.
    For almost 30 years, the vast majority of nations has banned all 
biological weapons, in accordance with the 1972 Biological and Toxin 
Weapons Convention (BWC). This landmark accord--now with 144 nations as 
parties--prohibits the possession of all biological weapons.
    Before the BWC, the United States had independently and 
unconditionally renounced the possession and use of biological weapons. 
The United States unilaterally destroyed its biological weapons 
stockpiles and dismantled or converted to peaceful uses the facilities 
that had been used for developing and producing them.
    Today, we know that the scourge of biological weapons has not been 
eradicated. Instead, the threat is growing. Since September 11, America 
and others have been confronted by the evils these weapons can inflict. 
This threat is real and extremely dangerous. Rogue states and terrorists 
possess these weapons and are willing to use them.
    The United States is committed to strengthening the Biological 
Weapons Convention (BWC) as part of a comprehensive strategy for 
combating the complex threats of weapons of mass destruction and 
terrorism. With this objective, my administration is proposing that all 
Parties:
 <bullet>    Enact strict national criminal legislation against 
            prohibited BW activities with strong extradition 
            requirements;
 <bullet>    Establish an effective United Nations procedure for 
            investigating suspicious outbreaks or allegations of 
            biological weapons use;
 <bullet>    Establish procedures for addressing BWC compliance 
            concerns;
 <bullet>    Commit to improving international disease control and to 
            enhance mechanisms for sending expert response teams to cope 
            with outbreaks;
 <bullet>    Establish sound national oversight mechanisms for the 
            security and genetic engineering of pathogenic organisms;
 <bullet>    Devise a solid framework for bioscientists in the form of a 
            code of ethical conduct that would have universal 
            recognition; and
 <bullet>    Promote responsible conduct in the study, use, 
            modification, and shipment of pathogenic organisms.
    I have directed my administration to consult with our friends and 
allies, as well as with Congress, industry, and non-governmental 
experts, on these proposals. We look forward to hearing the new ideas on 
how best to achieve our common aim of eliminating biological weapons.
    Our objective is to fashion an effective international approach to 
strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention. The ideas we propose do 
not constitute a complete solution to the use of pathogens and 
biotechnology for evil purposes. However, if we can strengthen the 
Convention against the threat of biological weapons, we will contribute 
to the security of the people of the United States and mankind as a 
whole.