[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 40 (Monday, October 8, 2007)]
[Pages 1280-1281]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Protocols to the Convention on 
the Prevention of Maritime Terrorism

October 1, 2007

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 of 2005 to the Convention 
for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime 
Navigation (the ``2005 SUA Protocol'') and the Protocol of 2005 to the 
Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of 
Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (the ``2005 Fixed 
Platforms Protocol'') (together, ``the Protocols''), adopted by the 
International Maritime Organization Diplomatic Conference in London on 
October 14, 2005, and signed by the United States of America on February 
17, 2006. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report 
of the Department of State with respect to the Protocols.
    The Protocols are an important component in the international 
campaign to prevent and punish maritime terrorism and the proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction and promote the aims of the Proliferation 
Security Initiative. They establish a legal basis for international 
cooperation in the investigation, prosecution, and extradition of those 
who commit or aid terrorist acts or trafficking in weapons of mass 
destruction aboard ships at sea or on fixed platforms.
    The Protocols establish the first international treaty framework for 
criminalizing certain terrorist acts, including using a ship or fixed 
platform in a terrorist activity, transporting weapons of mass 
destruction or their delivery systems and related materials, and 
transporting terrorist fugitives. The Protocols require Parties to 
criminalize these acts under their domestic laws, to cooperate to 
prevent and investigate suspected crimes under the Protocols, and to 
extradite or submit for prosecution persons accused of committing, 
attempting to commit, or aiding in the commission of such offenses. The 
2005 SUA Protocol also provides for a ship-boarding regime based on flag 
state consent that will provide an international legal basis for 
interdiction at sea of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery 
systems and related materials, and terrorist fugitives.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Protocols, subject to certain understandings that are described 
in the accompanying report of the Department of State.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 October 1, 2007.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 2.

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