1432 Aug. 11 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1995

Remarks Announcing a now, unlike then, such a treaty is within our Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons reach. Test Ban It would build upon the successes we have August 11, 1995 achieved so far: Securing a permanent exten- sion of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty; Good afternoon. Today I am announcing freezing North Korea’s nuclear program; cut- my decision to negotiate a true zero yield ting existing nuclear arsenals by putting the comprehensive test ban. This is an historic START I Treaty into force; persuading milestone in our efforts to reduce the nuclear , , and to give up threat to build a safer world. The United their nuclear weapons and to reach agree- States will now insist on a test ban that pro- ments with Russia that now mean that both hibits any nuclear weapons test explosion or our nations no longer target our missiles at any other nuclear explosion. I am convinced each other. this decision will speed the negotiations so A comprehensive test ban is the right step that we can achieve our goal of signing a as we continue pulling back from the nuclear comprehensive test ban next year. precipice, a precipice which we began to live As a central part of this decision, I am es- with 50 years ago this week. It moves us one tablishing concrete, specific safeguards that step closer to the day when no nuclear weap- define the conditions under which the ons are detonated anywhere on the face of will enter into a comprehen- the Earth. sive test ban. These safeguards will strength- Thank you very much. en our commitments in the areas of intel- NOTE: The President spoke at 1:05 p.m., in the ligence monitoring and verification, stockpile Briefing Room at the White House. stewardship, maintenance of our nuclear lab- oratories, and test readiness. They also specify the circumstances under Statement on a Comprehensive which I would be prepared, in consultation Nuclear Weapons Test Ban with Congress, to exercise our supreme na- August 11, 1995 tional interest rights under a comprehensive test ban to conduct necessary testing if the One of my administration’s highest prior- safety or reliability of our nuclear deterrent ities is to negotiate a comprehensive test ban could no longer be certified. treaty (CTBT) to reduce the danger posed As a part of this arrangement I am today by nuclear weapons proliferation. To advance directing the establishment of a new annual that goal and secure the strongest possible reporting and certification requirement that treaty, I am announcing today my decision will ensure that our nuclear weapons remain to seek a zero yield CTBT. A zero yield safe and reliable under a comprehensive test CTBT would ban any test ban. explosion or any other nuclear explosion im- I appreciate the time, the energy, and the mediately upon entry into force. I hope it wisdom that the Secretaries of State, De- will lead to an early consensus among all fense, and Energy; the Chairman of the Joint states at the negotiating table. Chiefs of Staff; the Directors of Central In- Achieving a CTBT was a goal of both telligence and the and Disar- Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. Now, mament Agency have all devoted to the re- as then, such a treaty would greatly strength- view of this crucial national security issue en U.S. and global security and create an- over the last several months. other barrier to and nu- American leaders since Presidents Eisen- clear weapons development. At the conclu- hower and Kennedy have believed a com- sion of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty prehensive test ban would be a major stride Review Conference in May, all parties to that toward stopping the proliferation of nuclear treaty agreed to work to complete a CTBT weapons. Now, as then, such a treaty would no later than 1996. Today, I want to reaffirm greatly strengthen the security of the United our commitment to do everything possible States and nations throughout the world. But to conclude the CTBT negotiations as soon

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as possible so that a treaty can be signed next terests’’ rights under the CTBT in order to year. conduct whatever testing might be required. As part of our national security strategy, Exercising this right, however, is a decision the United States must and will retain strate- I believe I or any future President will not gic nuclear forces sufficient to deter any fu- have to make. The nuclear weapons in the ture hostile foreign leadership with access to United States arsenal are safe and reliable, strategic nuclear forces from acting against and I am determined our stockpile steward- our vital interests and to convince it that ship program will ensure they remain so in seeking a nuclear advantage would be futile. the absence of nuclear testing. In this regard, I consider the maintenance I recognize that our present monitoring of a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile to be systems will not detect with high confidence a supreme national interest of the United very low yield tests. Therefore, I am commit- States. ted to pursuing a comprehensive research I am assured by the Secretary of Energy and development program to improve our and the Directors of our nuclear weapons treaty monitoring capabilities and operations. labs that we can meet the challenge of main- Thirty-two years ago, President Kennedy taining our nuclear deterrent under a CTBT called the completion of the Limited Test through a Science Based Stockpile Steward- Ban Treaty in a ‘‘shaft of light cut ship program without nuclear testing. I di- into the darkness’’ of the . With it, rected the implementation of such a program he said, the Nation could ‘‘step back from almost 2 years ago, and it is being developed the shadows of war and seek out the way with the support of the Secretary of Defense of peace.’’ We did, and the world is a safer and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. place because of it. I believe that we are This program will now be tied to a new cer- ready to take the next step and lead the world tification procedure. In order for this pro- to a comprehensive test ban. This would be gram to succeed, both the administration and a fitting tribute to all those, Republicans and the Congress must provide sustained biparti- Democrats, who have worked for a CTBT san support for the stockpile stewardship over the past four decades. program over the next decade and beyond. I am committed to working with the Con- NOTE: A fact sheet on arms control and non- gress to ensure this support. proliferation and a fact sheet on comprehensive test ban treaty safeguards were attached to the While I am optimistic that the stockpile statement. stewardship program will be successful, as President I cannot dismiss the possibility, however unlikely, that the program will fall Statement on Vetoing Legislation To short of its objectives. Therefore, in addition Lift the Arms Embargo Against to the new annual certification procedure for Bosnia our nuclear weapons stockpile, I am also es- August 11, 1995 tablishing concrete, specific safeguards that define the conditions under which the Unit- I am announcing today my decision to veto ed States can enter into a CTBT. legislation that would unilaterally lift the In the event that I were informed by the arms embargo against Bosnia and Secretary of Defense and Secretary of En- Herzegovina. ergy—advised by the Nuclear Weapons I know that Members of Congress share Council, the Directors of DOE’s nuclear my goals of reducing the violence in Bosnia weapons laboratories, and the Commander and working to end the war. But their vote of U.S. Strategic Command—that a high to unilaterally lift the arms embargo is the level of confidence in the safety or reliability wrong step at the wrong time. The American of a nuclear weapons type which the two Sec- people should understand the consequences retaries consider to be critical to our nuclear of such action for our Nation and for the deterrent could no longer be certified, I people of Bosnia. would be prepared, in consultation with Con- • First, our allies have made clear that gress, to exercise our ‘‘supreme national in- they will withdraw their troops from

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