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Statement by the President on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons
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For Immediate Release July 1, 2008

Statement by the President on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons

ÿÿWhite House News


Forty years ago today, the United States joined 61 other nations in signing
the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Today, almost
all nations are party to the Treaty. The NPT represents a key legal barrier
to nuclear weapons proliferation and makes a critical contribution to
international security. I reaffirm the strong support of the United States
for the Treaty and our commitment to work diligently to strengthen it
further.

NPT Parties must take strong action to confront noncompliance with the
Treaty in order to preserve and strengthen its nonproliferation
undertakings. We cannot allow nations to violate their commitments and
undermine the NPT's fundamental role in advancing international security.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through its safeguards
system, plays a vital role in supporting the Treaty by uncovering and
reporting violations of nuclear safeguards. The United States is committed
to ensuring the IAEA has the tools and access it needs to do its work,
especially in support of universal adherence to the Additional Protocol.

The United States remains firmly committed to continued compliance with our
own obligations under the NPT. Our record demonstrates this commitment,
including to the disarmament goals expressed in the Preamble and Article VI
of the Treaty. Because of the nuclear reductions I have directed and the
Moscow Treaty I signed with Russia, the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile
already has been reduced by half since I entered office and is at its
smallest size since the 1950s.

The United States supports the global expansion of peaceful nuclear energy
as a means of meeting growing energy demand and utilizing this
zero-emission source of energy to help meet the challenge of climate
change. This expansion of nuclear energy must be safe, secure and not
contribute to nuclear proliferation.

It is essential in these times of great challenges to the security of the
international community, particularly when terrorists and state sponsors of
terrorism seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, that NPT parties
work together to confront the dangers of nuclear proliferation. I call upon
all Parties to act promptly and effectively to meet these challenges and
ensure that the Treaty remains an effective instrument of global security.

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