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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                       (New York City, New York)
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                              September 24, 1996

                              FACT SHEET

Clinton Administration Counter-Terrorism, International Anti-Crime, Counternarcotics, Arms Control and Nonproliferation Initiatives:

As we enter the 21st century, the greatest threats to our freedom and security will come from a nexus of new threats: rogue states, terrorism, international crime, drug trafficking and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. President Clinton has made unprecedented progress in meeting these challenges and making Americans safer and more secure. But there is more to do. Today, at the United Nations, President Clinton called on all nations to commit to a coalition of zero tolerance for aggression, terrorism and lawless behavior. Building on steps he has already taken, President Clinton called for specific measures that will enable Americans and people around the world to enter the 21st century more secure.

TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL CRIME AND COUNTERNARCOTICS

In his September 24, 1996 address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Clinton outlined new U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism, international crime and narcotics trafficking:

Declaration on Crime and Public Security: President Clinton urged all nations to adopt the Declaration on Crime and Public Security, which President Clinton proposed last year and which was recently adopted by consensus by the UN Crime Commission and the UN Economic and Social Council. The Declaration, and its no sanctuary pledge, would make clear to terrorists, drug traffickers, alien smugglers and international criminals that they will have no place to run, no place to hide. The Declaration provides for cooperation among nations of the world to join together to fight back, forming networks of law enforcement to beat the networks of crime.

Ten International Conventions on Terrorism: President Clinton encouraged other governments to become a party to these conventions in the interest of strengthening international cooperation to fight terrorism. These agreements establish the principle that a state which obtains custody of persons responsible for a terrorist attack must either submit the perpetrator to prosecution or extradite them to a state that will do so.

An International Convention on Terrorist Bomb Attacks: President Clinton is proposing a new international convention that would create a legal framework for international cooperation in combating terrorist bomb attacks on public places. At this time, no treaty deals specifically with terrorist bombings such as the World Trade Center bombing. This treaty, which is now being developed by the U.S. to share with its G-7/P-8 partners, would obligate states party to prosecute or extradite perpetrators of large bomb attacks intended to cause large casualties.

Re-Targeting Defense Resources to Fight Drugs: President Clinton has decided to provide over $100 million worth of equipment and training to aid our foreign allies in the fight against drug traffickers. Included in this transfer would be helicopters, surveillance aircraft, boats, vehicles, communications gear and field equipment for Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and nations in the eastern Caribbean.

Control Chemicals Used to Make Illegal Drugs: President Clinton asked other nations that produce chemicals used to make illegal drugs to join together to create an informal arrangement to control their export. Through cooperative and complimentary approaches with other nations, we will limit and deny access to these chemicals to those who would use them to produce illegal drugs.

ARMS CONTROL AND NONPROLIFERATION

In his September 24, 1996 address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Clinton outlined further U.S. arms control and nonproliferation goals to further curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and reduce the dangerous legacy of Cold War weapons' stockpiles:

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC): President Clinton called on the Senate to pass the CWC to protect Americans from chemical attack and take the fight to rogue states and terrorists by banning poison gas from the earth. He also urged other nations to sign and ratify the treaty without delay.

Fissile Material Cutoff: President Clinton called on the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations without delay on a fissile material cutoff treaty that would end the unsafeguarded production of these materials for nuclear weapons forever. This nondiscriminatory ban would add momentum to current efforts to reduce global stocks of these deadly materials, and help fulfill the promise of the NPT Extension and Review Conference.

Further Reductions in Nuclear Force: President Clinton called on Russia to secure ratification of START II by the Duma. The President also reaffirmed his intent to begin discussions with Russia on the possibility of further reductions in nuclear forces, including limitations on and monitoring of warheads and fissile material, as soon as START II enters into force.

Strengthen Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): President Clinton pushed for full compliance with the NPT and strengthened tools -- including environmental sampling and access to undeclared facilities -- needed to assure compliance. He urged all nations that have not signed the NPT to do so without delay.

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC): President Clinton called for strengthening the means to monitor compliance with the BWC at the upcoming BWC Review Conference -- through such measures as mandatory declarations and on-site inspections -- with the goal of completing a legally-binding protocol by 1998.

Anti-personnel landmines (APL): President Clinton called for swift negotiation of a world-wide ban on the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

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