[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 28 (Monday, July 16, 2007)]
[Page 958]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the International Convention for the 
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism

July 12, 2007

To the Senate of the United States:

    I transmit herewith for Senate advice and consent to ratification 
the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear 
Terrorism (the ``Convention''), adopted by the United Nations General 
Assembly on April 13, 2005, and signed on behalf of the United States of 
America on September 14, 2005. As of July 3, 2007, 115 countries have 
signed the Convention and 23 have submitted their instruments of 
ratification or accession. The Convention entered into force on July 7, 
2007. I also transmit for the information of the Senate a report of the 
Department of State with respect to the Convention.
    The Convention imposes binding legal obligations upon States Parties 
either to submit for prosecution or to extradite any person within their 
jurisdiction who commits terrorist acts involving radioactive material 
or a nuclear device as set forth in Article 2 of the Convention, 
threatens or attempts to commit such an act, participates as an 
accomplice, organizes or directs others to commit such an offense, or in 
any other way contributes to the commission of such an offense by a 
group of persons acting with a common purpose, regardless of where the 
alleged act took place.
    States Parties to the Convention will also be obligated to provide 
one another legal assistance in investigations or criminal or 
extradition proceedings brought in respect of the offenses set forth in 
Article 2, in conformity with any treaties or other arrangements that 
may exist between them or in accordance with their national law. The 
recommended legislation necessary to implement the Convention will be 
submitted to the Congress separately.
    This Convention is important in the campaign against international 
terrorism. I recommend, therefore, that the Senate give early and 
favorable consideration to this Convention, subject to the 
understandings and reservation that are described in the accompanying 
State Department report.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 July 12, 2007

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