July 28, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________
For Immediate Release July 28, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Expanding the President's Executive Order on
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Today, I am expanding existing Executive Order authority to enhance
America's ability to deal with one of the toughest security challenges we
face: the spread of weapons of mass destruction and missiles to deliver
such weapons.
Two weeks ago, the Russian government announced it was investigating a
number of Russian entities suspected of violating weapons of mass
destruction export control provisions.
Today's Executive Order amendment will allow us to respond more
effectively to evidence that foreign entities around the world, such as
these Russian entities, have assisted in the transfer of dangerous weapons
and weapons technologies. The United States will use the amended Executive
Order, along with other existing authorities, to bar assistance to seven of
the entities identified by Russia, as well as to bar exports to and imports
from these entities.
The new Executive Order amends Executive Order 12938, issued in 1994,
in key respects:
-- The amended E.O. addresses not only transfers of chemical and biological
weapons, as provided in the original E.O., but also nuclear weapons and
missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction;
-- The amended E.O. imposes penalties not only where a transfer has been
carried out, as provided in the original E.O., but also in the event of an
attempt to transfer;
-- The amended E.O. expressly expands the range of potential penalties on
entities that have contributed to proliferation. Penalties include
prohibition of U.S. Government assistance to the entity and prohibition of
imports into the U.S., or U.S. Government procurement, of goods,
technology, and services.
The amended E.O. ensures that our Government has the necessary
flexibility in deciding when and to what extent to impose penalties. In
the fight to stem the spread of dangerous weaponry, we must be resourceful
and focus on doing what works. Being able to offer both incentives and
disincentives enhances our capacity to deal with these threats. I will
continue to work with Congress to ensure that America's policy provides
tough penalties -- and also sufficient flexibility to give us the best
chance to achieve positive results.
My Administration is working actively with our friends and allies
around the world to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. We are encouraged by recent commitments by Russia, by our
European allies, and others to increase their efforts, and we will continue
to press for even stronger commitments.
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