For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 25, 2001
To the Congress of the United States
I am pleased to 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 a proposed Protocol Amending the
Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States
of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco Concerning
Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy signed at Washington on May 30,
1980. I am also pleased to transmit my written approval,
authorization, and determination concerning the Protocol, and an
unclassified Nuclear Prolifera-tion Assessment Statement (NPAS)
concerning the Protocol. (In accordance with section 123 of
the Act, as amended by title XII of the Foreign Affairs Reform and
Restructuring Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-277), a classified Annex to
the NPAS, prepared by the Secretary of State in consultation with the
Director of Central Intelligence, summarizing relevant classified
informa-tion, will be submitted to the Congress
separately.) The joint memorandum submitted to me by the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy and a letter from the
Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stating the views of the
Commission are also enclosed.
I am informed that the proposed Protocol has been negotiated to be
in accordance with the Act and other applicable law, to meet all
statutory requirements, and to advance the nonprolifera-tion and other
foreign policy interests of the United States.
The Protocol amends the Agreement for Cooperation Between the
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the
Kingdom of Morocco Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in two
respects:
1. It extends the Agreement, which expired by its terms
on May 16, 2001, for an additional period of 20 years, with a provision
for automatic extensions thereafter in increments of 5 years each
unless either Party gives timely notice to terminate the Agreement; and
2. It updates certain provisions of the Agreement
relating to the physical protection of nuclear material subject to the
Agreement.
As amended by the proposed Protocol, I am informed that the
Agreement will continue to meet all requirements of U.S. law.
Morocco is in the early stages of developing a nuclear research
program, with support from the United States and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The United States firm, General
Atomics, is currently building the country's first reactor, a small (2
megawatt) TRIGA Mark II research reactor that will use low-enriched
uranium fuel. General Atomics? completion of the project
cannot occur without an Agreement for Cooperation in force.
Morocco is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and has an agreement with the IAEA for the
application of full-scope safeguards to its nuclear
program. Morocco is a signatory to (but has not yet
ratified) the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Material, which establishes international standards of physical
protection for the storage and transport of nuclear material.
I have considered the views and recommendations of the interested
agencies in reviewing the proposed Protocol and have determined that
its performance will promote, and will not constitute an unreasonable
risk to, the common defense and security. Accordingly, I
have approved the Protocol and authorized its execution and urge that
the Congress give it favorable consideration.
This transmission shall constitute a submittal for purposes of both
sections 123 b. and 123 d. of the Atomic Energy Act. My
Administration is prepared to begin immediately the consultations with
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House International
Relations Committee as provided in section 123 b. Upon
completion of the 30-day continuous session period provided for in
section 123 b., the 60-day continuous session period provided for in
section 123 d. shall commence.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 24, 2001.
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