Bush Urges Senate Approval of IAEA Protocol

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On May 9, President George W. Bush transmitted to the Senate for its approval the "additional protocol" to the U.S.-International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear safeguards agreement. It is the first time since taking office that the administration has forwarded an arms control treaty to the Senate for its advice and consent.

In his message to the Senate, Bush urged "early and favorable consideration" of the agreement. He emphasized that "universal adoption" of the protocol is "a central goal" of his nuclear nonproliferation policy. The United States signed the protocol in 1998.

The IAEA drafted the protocol to strengthen its ability to detect covert nuclear weapons …