Presidential Determination on Use of Cooperative Threat Reduction Funds in Albania under Section 1308 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004

This presidential determination authorizes the use of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) funds to destroy chemical warfare agents stockpiled in Albania, finding that the Department of Defense is best suited to carry out the project. The Secretary of State is directed to transmit the determination with required justification to Congress within 10 days of fund obligation and arrange for Federal Register publication.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 63037

Impact dates

Date TBD
Transmission to Congress of determination, justification, and project description

Key directives

Determine CTR funds may be obligated and expended for destruction of chemical warfare agents in Albania
Determine DoD is the most capable federal entity to carry out the project
Transmit determination with justification and project description to Congress within 10 days of fund obligation
Arrange for Federal Register publication

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Authorization of CTR funds for Albania chemical weapons destruction
Designation of DoD as lead implementing agency

Near term (90d)

Transmission of determination, justification, and project description to Congress (within 10 days of fund obligation)
Federal Register publication

Long term

Destruction of Albanian chemical warfare agents stockpile
Advancement of nonproliferation goals in the Balkans

Risks & tensions

Deadline is relative to 'obligation of funds' date, not signing date—actual calendar date unknown
Chemical weapons destruction carries operational and environmental risks not addressed in text
Reliance on DoD rather than State Department or international bodies for implementation may raise interagency coordination questions