05 January 2001 Clinton Urges Bipartisan Support of Test Ban Treaty President Clinton January 5 urged Congress and the incoming Bush administration to act on a new set of recommendations compiled by his special advisor to allay concerns about the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). "CTBT is supported by our friends and allies overseas and designed to reduce existing nuclear dangers as well as those that might emerge in the future," said Clinton after meeting with General John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Clinton expressed his hope that the Senate will consider re-examining the treaty "at an early date as a critical component of a bipartisan non-proliferation policy." The new report, he said, "argues persuasively that ratifying the CTBT would increase our national security." A summary of the report is available on the Web at: http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/ctbtpage/ctbt_fact.html Following is the text of Clinton's statement: Statement by the President: General Shalikashvili's Report Concerning the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty The White House Office of the Press Secretary January 5, 2001 Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John M. Shalikashvili and I met this morning to discuss his report concerning the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The report argues persuasively that ratifying the CTBT would increase our national security, and that the security benefits of the Treaty outweigh any perceived disadvantages. The report's recommendations address concerns raised during the October 1999 Senate debate over CTBT. I urge Congress and the incoming Bush administration to act on them. I also hope the Senate will take up the Treaty at an early date as a critical component of a bipartisan non-proliferation policy. CTBT is supported by our friends and allies overseas, and designed to reduce existing nuclear dangers as well as those that might emerge in the future. I commend General Shalikashvili for his thorough and rigorous report and his continued service to the nation. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File