January 27, 1997

The Honorable Samuel Berger
Acting National Security Advisor
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. Berger:

With the recent decision to pursue negotiations on anti-personnel landmines through the U.N. Conference on Disarmament, we fear that the United States continues to miss opportunities to move toward a global ban without unnecesssary delay. While not without its weaknesses, full U.S. engagement in the Ottawa Process seemed to offer a reasonable opportunity for rapid progress on eliminating these weapons. We hope that an early ban can be acheived through the U.N. Disarmament, but this will only be possible with strong, unambiguous and persistent U.S. leadership.

As Bishop Anthony Pilla, president of the bishops' conference, noted in his letter of January 13 to President Clinton, prospects for an early ban will be enhanced if the United States leads by example. The decision to work with Congress to make permanent the current moratorium on U.S. exports is helpful. We would hope that the United States would go beyond the newly-announced cap on landmines and consider a moratorium or ban on production and prepare for an end to all use of these indiscriminate weapons.

We renew our calls on President Clinton and the U.S. government to respond effectively and creatively to the urgent moral imperative of banning anti-personnel landmines.

With every good wish, I am
Sincerely yours,



Most Reverend Theodore E. McCarrick
Archbishop of Newark
Chairman, International Policy Committee
U.S. Catholic Conference

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