[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 3 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Pages 97-98]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Congress Transmitting the Turkey-United States Agreement 
Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

January 22, 2008

To the Congress of the United States:

    I transmit to the Congress, pursuant to sections 123 b. and 123 d. 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153(b),(d))(the 
``Act''), the text of the proposed Agreement for Cooperation between the 
United States of America and the Republic of Turkey Concerning Peaceful 
Uses of Nuclear Energy (the ``Agreement'') together with a copy of the 
unclassified Nuclear Proliferation Assessment Statement (NPAS) and of my 
approval of the proposed Agreement and determination that the proposed 
Agreement will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to, 
the common defense and security. The Secretary of State will submit the 
classified NPAS and accompanying annexes separately in appropriate 
secure channels.
    The Agreement was signed on July 26, 2000, and President Clinton 
approved and authorized execution and made the determinations required 
by section 123 b. of the Act (Presidential Determination 2000-26, 65 FR 
44403 (July 18, 2000)). However, immediately after signature, U.S. 
agencies received information that called into question the conclusions 
that had been drawn in the required NPAS and the original classified 
annex, specifically, information implicating Turkish private entities in 
certain activities directly relating to nuclear proliferation. 
Consequently, the Agreement was not submitted to the

[[Page 98]]

Congress and the executive branch undertook a review of the NPAS 
evaluation.

    My Administration has completed the NPAS review as well as an 
evaluation of actions taken by the Turkish government to address the 
proliferation activities of certain Turkish entities (once officials of 
the U.S. Government brought them to the Turkish government's attention). 
The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the members of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission are confident that the pertinent issues 
have been sufficiently resolved and that there is a sufficient basis (as 
set forth in the classified annexes, which will be transmitted 
separately by the Secretary of State) to proceed with congressional 
review of the Agreement and, if legislation is not enacted to disapprove 
it, to bring the Agreement into force.

    In my judgment, entry into force of the Agreement will serve as a 
strong incentive for Turkey to continue its support for nonproliferation 
objectives and enact future sound nonproliferation policies and 
practices. It will also promote closer political and economic ties with 
a NATO ally, and provide the necessary legal framework for U.S. industry 
to make nuclear exports to Turkey's planned civil nuclear sector.Q06
    This transmittal shall constitute a submittal for purposes of both 
section 123 b. and 123 d. of the Act. My Administration is prepared to 
begin immediate consultations with the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee as provided in section 
123 b. Upon completion of the period of 30 days of continuous session 
provided for in section 123 b., the period of 60 days of continuous 
session provided for in section 123 d. shall commence.

                                                George W. Bush

The White House,
January 22, 2008.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
January 23.