ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:97032002.EEA
DATE:03/20/97
TITLE:20-03-97  TEXT: CLINTON STATEMENT ON TOKYO GAS ATTACK ANNIVERSARY

TEXT:
(Chemical Weapons pact will make citizens more secure) (580)

Helsinki, Finland -- President Clinton joined with the people of Japan
in remembering their pain and loss two years ago when terrorists
launched a chemical attack in Tokyo's subways that took 12 lives and
injured thousands more.

In a statement released prior to his meeting with Soviet President
Boris Yeltsin in Helsinki March 20, Clinton said the anniversary
should be a reminder to do everything possible to protect Americans
from the threat of similar terrorist outrage, including ratifying the
Chemical Weapons Convention.

"It would be harmful to our national interests if the United States,
which led the way in developing this Treaty, was on the outside and
not on the inside when it comes into operation on April 29," Clinton
said. "As we remember the terrible toll that Sarin gas took in Tokyo
two years ago, I urge the Senate to help protect our citizens and
soldiers and strengthen our fight against terror by ratifying the
Chemical Weapons Convention now."

Following is the official text of the President's statement:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
Helsinki, Finland

For Immediate Release             March 20, 1997

Statement by the President on the Anniversary of the
Tokyo Subway Sarin Gas Attack

Two years ago, terrorists launched a cowardly chemical attack in
Tokyo's subways that took 12 lives and injured thousands more. Today,
we join with the people of Japan in remembering their pain and loss.

This tragic anniversary also reminds us that we must do everything
possible to protect Americans from the threat of similar terrorist
outrage. That includes ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention -- a
step that Japan's Diet took within a month of the attack on Tokyo. And
just this week, the treaty was submitted to Russia's Duma for
ratification. We still have not yet ratified. It would be harmful to
our national interests if the United States, which led the way in
developing this Treaty, was on the outside and not on the inside when
it comes into operation on April 29.

The Chemical Weapons Convention will help to thwart chemical
terrorists in several important ways. It will eliminate their largest
potential source of chemical weapons by mandating the destruction of
existing chemical weapons stockpiles. It will make it more difficult
for terrorists to gain access to chemicals that can be used to make
chemical weapons. It will tied the United States into a global
intelligence and information network that can help provide early
warning of terrorist plans for a chemical attack. It will give our law
enforcement officials new authority at home to investigate and
prosecute anyone seeking to acquire chemical weapons or to use them
against innocent civilians.

Just as no law prevents every crime, no treaty is foolproof. But the
Chemical Weapons Convention will help make our citizens more secure.
It will also help protect our soldiers by requiring member nations to
destroy their chemical weapons -- a step we are already taking under
U.S. law.

These overwhelming benefits explain why America's military leaders and
Presidents of both parties have strongly supported the ratification of
this treaty. As we remember the terrible toll that Sarin gas took in
Tokyo two years ago, I urge the Senate to help protect our citizens
and soldiers and strengthen our fight against terror by ratifying the
Chemical Weapons Convention now.

(end text)
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