Biden Praises Progress on Nonproliferation Programs, Regrets Lack of Progress on CTBT

April 27, 1999

WASHINGTON -- Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., senior Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today underlined his support for current U.S. nonproliferation policies and praised the progress made by programs designed to advance arms control and stem the spread of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.

"In recent weeks, we have been preoccupied with the crisis in Kosovo," Biden said in a committee hearing on nonproliferation, arms control, and other political military issues. "Even now, however, there are no more important objectives for the United States than maintaining strategic stability and stemming the flow of materials or technology that would contribute to developing weapons of mass destruction

"Thanks to the Department of Energy's (DOE) success in administering our arms control policies, I have renewed confidence that the Senate will approve increased funding not only for the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP) program, but also for the other initiatives of the Expanded Threat Reduction Initiative (ETRI). Already there has been major progress in further ensuring that no IPP projects have any significant benefits for Russian military programs and in refocusing available funds so that more money reaches Russian and Newly Independent State scientists."

The IPP, one of the five major threat reduction programs, was begun in 1994 to address the threat to U.S. non-proliferation goals posed by former Soviet weapons scientists and technicians who, driven by their country's worsening economic conditions, were at risk for recruitment by rogue nations' weapons programs. The ETRI will increase U.S. threat reduction funding by 60% over the next five years.

Biden also expressed concern over the lack of Senate progress on consideration of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). "Nearly two years ago, the President submitted this treaty to the Senate. Since then, I regret that there has not been a single hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on this Treaty. I hope that the Republican leadership will soon recognize the need for the U.S. to lead in arms control efforts worldwide, and for the Senate to consider the CTBT soon."

The CTBT obligates its signatories to refrain from any nuclear test explosion. It would reinforce the global non-proliferation regime and also significantly improve international capabilities to detect and monitor nuclear tests worldwide.