[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[June 25, 2003]
[Pages 694-695]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
[[Page 694]]
Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and European Council
President Konstandinos Simitis and
European Commission President Romano Prodi on
the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
June 25, 2003
Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their
delivery systems constitutes a major threat to international peace and
security. The threat is compounded by the interest of terrorists in
acquiring WMD. This would undermine the foundations of international
order. We pledge to use all means available to avert WMD proliferation
and the calamities that would follow.
We will work together to strengthen the international
system of treaties and regimes against the spread of WMD.
This implies the development of new regimes, as appropriate,
and reinforcement of existing regimes. We will pursue the
goal of universal membership of relevant multilateral
treaties and agreements.
We will seek to ensure strict implementation and
compliance. We are willing to work with all those who
respect international nonproliferation norms; we are
committed to dealing effectively with those who ignore them
or cheat.
We will support, when necessary, non-routine inspections.
We recognize that, if necessary, other measures in
accordance with international law may be needed to combat
proliferation.
We will work together to deploy our combined political and
diplomatic influence most effectively in support of our
nonproliferation objectives.
We will work together to develop further a common
assessment of global proliferation threats.
We welcome the statement on nonproliferation by European Union Heads
of State and Government at Thessaloniki and the G8 Declaration of the
Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. We reaffirm our joint
commitment to relevant treaties and agreements, in particular the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. We will work together in all areas to
stop and reverse proliferation.
In particular:
We will explore ways to make the International Atomic
Energy Agency's (IAEA) Safeguards Agreements and Additional
Protocols a standard for nuclear cooperation and
nonproliferation. We urge all States with nuclear facilities
or activities to ratify and implement these Agreements and
Protocols without delay. Furthermore, on an urgent and
exceptional basis, taking account of the increase in the
Agency's workload in this area, we will support an adequate
increase in the IAEA safeguards budget to ensure the
credibility of the IAEA's verification system.
We will strengthen both export controls on materials and
technologies related to WMD and their delivery systems as
well as their enforcement and implementation. We believe
that national controls should include criminal penalties for
the illegal export, transshipment or brokering of weapons of
mass destruction, missile delivery systems, and materials or
technology for use in WMD or missile programs. We will work
together with like-minded partners to tighten export
controls, where necessary providing assistance to create and
improve effective, enforceable national export control
systems. We agree to introduce catch-all provisions, where
appropriate. We will
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share information so as to identify new patterns of
procurement by State and non-State actors. We will seek new
methods to stop the proliferation trade to and from
countries and entities of proliferation concern.
We will work together in the framework of the Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) to strengthen national
control over pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins and, in
the framework of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to
foster the elimination of all chemical weapons.
We will strengthen identification, control and interdiction
of illegal shipments, including national criminal sanctions
against those who contribute to illicit procurement efforts.
We emphasize the importance of cooperative threat reduction
programs with third countries.
We will cooperate actively to address specific proliferation
challenges. In particular:
We condemn North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its
failure to comply with the IAEA safeguards agreement, which
undermine the nonproliferation regime. We call on North
Korea to refrain from any action that would further
aggravate the problem. We strongly urge North Korea to
visibly, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle that program
and to come into full compliance with international
nonproliferation obligations, as a fundamental step to
facilitate a comprehensive and peaceful solution.
We express our continuing serious concern at Iran's nuclear
program, in particular as regards the pursuit of a full
nuclear fuel cycle, as announced by President
Khatami. Mohammed We are
troubled by the information in the IAEA's report detailing
Iran's failures to meet its safeguards obligations, and we
fully support ongoing investigation by the IAEA to answer
the unresolved questions and concerns identified in that
report. Iran must cooperate fully with the IAEA, remedy all
failures and answer all questions. It must also sign and
implement an Additional Protocol, without delay or
conditions, as a significant first step towards addressing
those concerns.
We remain concerned at the pursuit of nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons, and missiles for their delivery by a
number of other States. We will continue to monitor these
closely and to exchange information, including with other
concerned States.
Proliferation is a threat not only to our security, but also to the
wider international system. We call for a halt to proliferation
activities in a way that is demonstrable and verifiable.
Nonproliferation is a global challenge which requires a multifaceted
solution. We need to tackle it individually and collectively--working
together and with other partners, including through relevant
international institutions, in particular those of the United Nations
system.
Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
this joint statement.