For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 4, 2003
Presidential Letter
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
I am pleased to transmit to the Congress, consistent with sections
123 and 144 b. of the Atomic Energy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2153 and
2164(b)), the text of the Agreement between the Parties to the North
Atlantic Treaty for Co-operation Regarding Atomic Information,
including a technical annex and security annex (hereinafter
collectively referred to as the ATOMAL Agreement), as a proposed
agreement for cooperation within the context of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) between the United States of America and
each of the following four members of NATO: the Czech Republic, the
Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and Spain, hereinafter the
"New Parties." I am also pleased to transmit my written approval,
authorization and determination concerning the ATOMAL Agreement with
respect to the New Parties. The ATOMAL Agreement entered into force on
March 12, 1965, with respect to the United States and the other NATO
members at that time. The New Parties have signed this agreement and
have indicated their willingness to be bound by it. The ATOMAL
Agreement with respect to the New Parties meets the requirements of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. While the ATOMAL Agreement
continues in force with respect to its original parties, for the United
States it will not become effective as an agreement for cooperation
authorizing the exchange of atomic information with respect to the New
Parties until completion of procedures prescribed by sections 123 and
144 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
For more than 35 years, the ATOMAL Agreement has served as the
framework within which NATO and the other NATO members party to this
agreement have received the information that is necessary to an
understanding and knowledge of and participation in the political and
strategic consensus upon which the collective military capacity of the
Alliance depends. This agreement permits only the transfer of atomic
information, not weapons, nuclear material or equipment. Participation
in the ATOMAL Agreement will give the Czech Republic, the Republic of
Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and Spain the same standing within the
Alliance with regard to nuclear matters as that of the other NATO
members. This is important for the cohesiveness of the Alliance and
will enhance its effectiveness.
I have considered the views and recommendations of the Department
of Defense and other interested agencies in reviewing the ATOMAL
Agreement and have determined that its performance, including the
proposed cooperation and the proposed communication of Restricted Data
thereunder, with respect to the New Parties will promote, and will not
constitute an unreasonable risk to, the common defense and security.
Accordingly, I have approved the ATOMAL Agreement with respect to the
New Parties and authorized the Department of Defense to cooperate with
the New Parties in the context of NATO upon satisfaction of the
requirements of section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended.
In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, I am
submitting to each house of Congress an authoritative copy of the
ATOMAL Agreement as signed by each of the New Parties, together with a
copy of the letter from the Secretary of Defense recommending my
approval of the ATOMAL Agreement with respect to the New Parties and a
copy of my approval letter. The 60-day continuous session period
provided for in section 123 begins upon receipt of this submission.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
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