    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
    [Pages 1188-1189]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Message to the Senate Transmitting a Report on Additional Geneva
    Convention Amendments

    June 19, 2006

    To the Senate of the United States:

        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith: the Protocol Additional to the Geneva
    Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an
    Additional Distinctive Emblem (the ``Geneva Protocol III''), adopted at
    Geneva on December 8, 2005, and signed by the United States on that
    date; the Amendment to Article 1 of the Convention on Prohibitions or
    Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be
    Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

    [[Page 1189]]

    (the ``CCW Amendment''); and the CCW Protocol on Explosive Remnants of
    War (the ``CCW Protocol V''). I transmit, for the information of the
    Senate, the report of the Department of State concerning these treaties.
        Geneva Protocol III. Geneva Protocol III creates a new distinctive
    emblem, a Red Crystal, in addition to and for the same purposes as the
    Red Cross and the Red Crescent emblems. The Red Crystal is a neutral
    emblem that can be employed by governments and national societies that
    face challenges using the existing emblems. In addition, Geneva Protocol
    III will pave the way for Magen David Adom, Israel's national society,
    to achieve membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
    Movement. Legislation implementing Geneva Protocol III will be submitted
    to the Congress separately.
        CCW Amendment. The amendment to Article 1 of the CCW, which was
    adopted at Geneva on December 21, 2001, eliminates the distinction
    between international and non-international armed conflict for the
    purposes of the rules governing the prohibitions and restrictions on the
    use of certain conventional weapons. It does not change the legal status
    of rebel or insurgent groups into that of protected or privileged
    belligerents.
        CCW Protocol V. CCW Protocol V, which was adopted at Geneva on
    November 28, 2003, addresses the post-conflict threat generated by
    conventional munitions such as mortar shells, grenades, artillery
    rounds, and bombs that do not explode as intended or that are abandoned.
    CCW Protocol V provides for the marking, clearance, removal, and
    destruction of such remnants by the party in control of the territory in
    which the munitions are located.
        Conclusion. I urge the Senate to give prompt and favorable
    consideration to each of these instruments and to give its advice and
    consent to their ratification. These treaties are in the interest of the
    United States, and their ratification would advance the longstanding and
    historic leadership of the United States in the law of armed conflict.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     June 19, 2006.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    June 20. An original was not available for verification of the content
    of this message.