Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/251

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PUBLIC LAW 103-337 —OCT. 5, 1994 108 STAT. 2885 offensive biological weapons research, development, testing, production, and storage in Russia as well as in other countries. (6) A United States Government report, dated June 23, 1994, states the following: "The United States has determined that the offensive biological warfare program that Russia inherited from the Soviet Union violated the Biological Weapons Convention through at least March 1992. The Soviet offensive biological weapons program was massive, and included production, weaponization, and stockpiling. The status of the program since that time remains unclear and the U.S. remains concerned about the Russian biological warfare program.". (7) The Joint Statement on Biological Weapons issued by officials of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia on September 14, 1992, confirmed the commitment of the three governments to full compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention and outlined steps designed to increase confidence in that commitment. (8) The Presidents of Russia and the United States are scheduled to hold a summit meeting in Washington during the month of September 1994. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the President should continue to urge all signatories to the Biological Weapons Convention to comply fully with the terms of that convention and with other international agreements relating to the control of biological weapons; (2) the President should keep the Congress fully and currently informed regarding any Russian activities related to offensive biological weapons; (3) the President should continue to insist that the Russian Government complete the steps noted and agreed to in the Joint Statement on Biological Weapons issued by officials of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia on September 14, 1992; (4) subsequent meetings of representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia on biological weapons and the September 1994 summit meeting in Washington provide opportunities for the President to again emphasize the importance of resolving the issues related to compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention; (5) in assessing the President's fiscal year 1996 budget request for foreign assistance funds for Russia, and for other programs and activities to provide assistance to Russia, including the Cooperative Threat Reduction programs. Congress will consider United States Government assessments of Russia's compliance with its obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention; and (6) as the President encourages increased transparency of biological weapons-related activities and facilities to deter violations of, and enhance compliance with, the Biological Weapons Convention, the President should also take appropriate actions to ensure that the United States is prepared to counter the effects of use of biological weapons by others. (c) PRESIDENTIAL REPORTS. — Not later than February 1, 1995, not later than June 1, 1995, and not later than October 1, 1995, the President shall submit to Congress a report, in classified and unclassified forms, containing an assessment of the extent of compliance of the independent states of the former Soviet Union with