Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance is a bureau within the United States Department of State
. It is responsible for providing oversight of policy and resources of all matters relating to the verification of compliance---or noncompliance---with international arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament
agreements.
The agency is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, who is currently Rose Gottemoeller
, preceded by Paula A. DeSutter
. Formerly known as the bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation. It was originally the Bureau of Verification and Compliance, established on December 21, 1999 by Secretary Albright. The Bureau became operational on February 1, 2000, with the new name giving emphasis toward its involvement in every stage of the arms control and nonproliferation process.
The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, referred to as the "AVC Bureau," for short, is responsible for coordinating an Annual Report on "Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control and Nonproliferation Agreements and Commitments," which is required of the President
by Congress
. In its noncompliance assessments, the Bureau utilizes all source intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction and the proliferation behavior. The assessments are used in the process for evaluating and determining sanctionable activities.
As the Bureau acts as the Department's policy liaison to the Intelligence Community for verification and compliance, it provides guidance on funding and tasking priorities for collection resources. Bureau personnel participate regularly as Special Verification Advisors to, and as members of, delegations to ongoing bilateral and multilateral agreements. The Bureau co-chairs a number of Interagency Verification and Compliance Analysis Working Groups, including those related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
, the Chemical Weapons Convention
, the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
, and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance also serves as co-chair with the intelligence community of the Verification and Monitoring Task Force to improve nuclear test detection and verifiability of nuclear related agreements. These groups provide the fora for discussion and resolution of issues arising from the implementation of treaties and commitments in-force and under negotiation, and the participation in the Department of State's sanctions groups provides further information for noncompliance assessments.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Key-State-Department-Appointment/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/121630.htm
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. It is responsible for providing oversight of policy and resources of all matters relating to the verification of compliance---or noncompliance---with international arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
agreements.
The agency is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, who is currently Rose Gottemoeller
Rose Gottemoeller
Rose Gottemoeller was sworn in as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation on April 6, 2009...
, preceded by Paula A. DeSutter
Paula A. DeSutter
Paula Adamo DeSutter was United States Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation from 2002 to 2009.-Biography:...
. Formerly known as the bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation. It was originally the Bureau of Verification and Compliance, established on December 21, 1999 by Secretary Albright. The Bureau became operational on February 1, 2000, with the new name giving emphasis toward its involvement in every stage of the arms control and nonproliferation process.
The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, referred to as the "AVC Bureau," for short, is responsible for coordinating an Annual Report on "Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control and Nonproliferation Agreements and Commitments," which is required of the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. In its noncompliance assessments, the Bureau utilizes all source intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction and the proliferation behavior. The assessments are used in the process for evaluating and determining sanctionable activities.
As the Bureau acts as the Department's policy liaison to the Intelligence Community for verification and compliance, it provides guidance on funding and tasking priorities for collection resources. Bureau personnel participate regularly as Special Verification Advisors to, and as members of, delegations to ongoing bilateral and multilateral agreements. The Bureau co-chairs a number of Interagency Verification and Compliance Analysis Working Groups, including those related to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
The original Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was negotiated and concluded during the last years of the Cold War and established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry...
, the Chemical Weapons Convention
Chemical Weapons Convention
The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction...
, the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987, it was ratified by the United States Senate on May 27, 1988 and...
, and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance also serves as co-chair with the intelligence community of the Verification and Monitoring Task Force to improve nuclear test detection and verifiability of nuclear related agreements. These groups provide the fora for discussion and resolution of issues arising from the implementation of treaties and commitments in-force and under negotiation, and the participation in the Department of State's sanctions groups provides further information for noncompliance assessments.
External links
- The Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance at the Department of State website
- The Bureau of Verification and Compliance archives
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Key-State-Department-Appointment/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/121630.htm