Message to the Congress
on the Binary Chemical Munitions Program
To
the Congress of the
Pursuant
to Section 8093 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1986, Public
Law 99 - 190, I hereby certify with respect to the binary chemical munitions
program that the United States:
(1)
has submitted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a force goal stating
the requirements for modernization of the United States proportional share of
the NATO chemical deterrent with binary munitions and said force goal has been
adopted by the North Atlantic Council;
(2)
has developed, in coordination with the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, a
plan under which U.S. binary chemical munitions can be deployed under
appropriate contingency plans to deter chemical weapons attacks against the
United States and its allies; and
(3)
has consulted with other member nations of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on that plan.
I
note with regard to the first numbered paragraph that the force goal was
adopted by the North Atlantic Council constituted as the Defense Planning
Committee in accordance with the North Atlantic Treaty. I am pleased to make
this certification on a program so vital to our national defense. We are
earnestly seeking, as our top priority in the chemical weapons area, a
comprehensive and verifiable ban on all chemical weapons. Until we achieve that
goal, we must maintain a safe and viable chemical weapon stockpile to deter use
of chemicals by our potential adversaries. I appreciate your continued support
for this program.
Ronald
Reagan
The
White House,