For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 19, 2003
Fact Sheet
The President's National Security Strategy to Combat WMD
Libya's Announcement
Libya has disclosed to the US and UK significant information on its
nuclear and chemical weapons programs, as well as on its biological and
ballistic missile-related activities: Libya has also pledged to:
- Eliminate all elements of its chemical and nuclear weapons programs;
- Declare all nuclear activities to the IAEA;
- Eliminate ballistic missiles beyond 300 km range, with a payload of
500kg;
- Accept international inspections to ensure Libya's complete
adherence to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and sign the
Additional Protocol;
- Eliminate all chemical weapons stocks and munitions, and accede to
the Chemical Weapons Convention;
- Allow immediate inspections and monitoring to verify all of these
actions.
As President Bush said today, Libya must also fully engage in the
war against terror.
Libya's announcement today is a product of the President's strategy
which gives regimes a choice. They can choose to pursue WMD at great
peril, cost and international isolation. Or they can choose to
renounce these weapons, take steps to rejoin the international
community, and have our help in creating a better future for their
citizens.
These actions will make our country more safe and the world more
peaceful.
There is no greater danger to our people than the nexus of
terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. The risks posed by this
dangerous nexus cannot be contained or deterred by traditional means.
From the beginning of his Administration the President's national
security strategy has committed the US to work with its allies to:
- Ensure that international agreements against the proliferation of
WMD are observed and enforced;
- Detect, disrupt and block the spread of dangerous weapons and
technology;
- Confront emerging threats from any person or state before those
threats have fully materialized; and
- Improve our capabilities to respond to the use of WMD and minimize
the consequences of an attack.
The President's national security strategy gives regimes a choice.
They can choose to pursue WMD at great peril, cost and international
isolation. Or they can choose to renounce these weapons, take steps to
rejoin the international community, and have our help in creating a
better future for their citizens.
Libya's announcement today is a product of this strategy. Over the
last two years the world community has witnessed our determination to
work in partnership with our allies to combat the nexus of terrorism
and WMD. Together we have:
- Enforced UN Security Council resolutions to disarm the Iraqi regime;
- Removed the terrorist Taliban regime in Afghanistan;
- Expanded our intelligence capabilities, improved our technology, and
increased allied cooperation;
- Captured or killed key terrorist leaders, disrupted and seized
terrorist finances, and destroyed terrorist weapons and training camps;
- Led the Proliferation Security Initiative to interdict dangerous WMD
and their means of delivery.
- Continued our efforts to secure sensitive technologies in the former
Soviet Union and elsewhere;
- Insisted on a multilateral approach to confront the threat from
North Korea; and
- Supported the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold
the Iranian regime to its treaty obligations.
These actions have sent an unmistakable message to regimes that
seek or possess WMD: these weapons do not bring influence or prestige
-- they only bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. When
leaders make the wise and reasonable choice to renounce terror and WMD,
they serve the interests of their own people and add to the security of
all nations.
Another message should be equally clear: leaders who abandon the
pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons -- and the means to
deliver them -- will find an open path to better relations with the US
and other free nations.
Other leaders should find a constructive example in Libya's
announcement. Genuine progress by Libya to eliminate its WMD programs
will be met by tangible improvements in relations with the world
community.
The US and UK have a troubled history with Libya, and serious
issues remain. However, Libya has taken a significant step, and with
this decision Libya has begun the process of rejoining the
international community. As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation, it
can be a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East.
###
|