Opening address by Ms Sue Van Der Merwe, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the sub-regional workshop for States parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention in the SADC region and of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Entry Into Force of the convention, Kievitskroon

Deputy Minister Thabethe
Your Excellencies, ambassadors and high commissioners
Distinguished delegates and guests
Ladies and Gentleman

I welcome all our guests to South Africa and express the hope that the warmth of the reception and of the discussions amongst friends and neighbours will compensate for the cold of the South African winter.

It is my privilege and honour to address you tonight on the occasion of the start of the sub-regional workshop to raise awareness about the CWC. We are honoured as a country to host this event, which aims not only to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the CWC but also to launch discussions on the implementation of this convention in the SADC region.

This is a particularly important topic in a world that has become increasingly unsafe following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States of America (USA). Those events have highlighted the threats to international peace and security posed by the potential of chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands. This heightened threat has resulted in a greater determination by some countries to pursue and impose their narrow national security interests internationally at the expense of broader development objectives. The "war on terror" or "the terror of war" and the siege mentality that has arisen out of the potential security threats posed by terrorists has led to countries digging in their heels and holding on to weapons of mass destruction under the guise of a deterrence against potential threats to their own security.

Yet, we are no closer to guaranteeing a more secure world today than we were when these weapons of mass destruction were in the hands of the superpowers only. Speaking at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1998, former South African President Mr Nelson Mandela asked those who justify, "These terrible and terrifying weapons of mass destruction, why do they need them anyway?" In reality, no rational answer can be advanced to explain in a satisfactory manner, what in the end is the consequence of cold war inertia and an attachment to the use of the threat of brute force to assert the primacy of some States over others."

South Africa sees non-proliferation within the context of a much broader and all encompassing development process, which is part of our foreign policy agenda. Towards this end we have committed ourselves to promoting and supporting the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with the goal of international peace, stability and security whilst at the same time also ensuring that control measures do not become means whereby developing countries are denied access to advanced technologies required for their own development. The challenge we are all faced with is to balance genuine security concerns with development objectives, within the context of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

It is therefore encouraging to note the unique role played by the CWC and the OPCW in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation. No other process, institution or mechanism in this field has come close to realising in a similar manner the destruction and prohibition of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. The CWC is currently the only multilateral instrument that is realising actual disarmament, subject to an effective system of verification, as well as setting specific deadlines whereby such destruction has to be completed.

Speaking at the special session of the OPCW Executive Council, on 9 October 2000, the former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso argued that, "The convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons incorporates in an exemplary manner, elements that are essential for international peace and security: disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, scientific and technological co-operation as well as the legitimacy that is intrinsic to the rules established by multilateral diplomacy."

The OPCW has, amongst others, accomplished the verification of the destruction of more than 17,6 metric tons of chemical weapon agents (almost a quarter of the global stockpile of 71 metric tons) and is overseeing the destruction of 2,67 million chemical munitions and containers (representing 30% of the total number of 8,6 million chemical munitions and containers). Compliance with the legal provisions of the CWC is therefore a must for all of us.

We all have an obligation not merely to comply for the sake of compliance but to use the opportunities to be found in the CWC to create a more secure world in which our developmental objectives can be realised. We must therefore continue to encourage the fullest possible exchange of chemicals, equipment, scientific and technical information relating to the development and application of chemistry for peaceful purposes.

I trust that all of you have had the opportunity to view the exhibition commemorating the 10th anniversary which has kindly been provided by the OPCW. The exhibition constitutes not only a stark reminder of the scourge that this convention is fighting, but is also a good indication of the extremely important work that we as States parties are doing through the OPCW to rid the world of these horrific weapons.

I take this opportunity to call on all States parties to the CWC who possess chemical weapons to actively continue with their destruction programmes and to ensure that all chemical weapons stockpiles are destroyed by the agreed deadlines.

South Africa supports the efforts of the OPCW to stop the spread of chemical weapons, especially in view of the rapidly growing global chemical industry. In particular South Africa supports the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of chemistry, with a particular focus on developing countries which are States parties to the CWC.

It is our view that, as we approach the second Review Conference of the CWC in 2008 and the deadline for the destruction of all chemical weapons by 2012, States parties will increasingly have to consider ways in which the convention could contribute to the fostering of economic and technological development in the chemical industries of developing States parties. It is important that we as States parties envisage a future for the convention that is not only based on security related issues but also recognises in a more comprehensive manner, the interests of developing States parties to the convention.

Turning to the sub-regional workshop for States parties in the SADC region, I would firstly like to extend our gratitude to the government of the Netherlands that kindly provided the funds to make this workshop possible.

Secondly, I want to express a special word of welcome and appreciation to the delegation from Angola. Angola is not a State party to the CWC but the government of Angola agreed to send a delegation to attend the workshop as observers. We especially appreciate your presence here, as we are of the view that you should be kept informed of the discussions and developments in our region pertaining to the important subject of chemical weapons.

This workshop offers States parties to the CWC the opportunity to discuss matters related to the implementation of the convention amongst each other and to benefit not only from the knowledge existing in the region in this regard, but also from the knowledge of the experts from the technical secretariat of the OPCW that are present here tonight.

The workshop will also look at ways in which States parties to the CWC in this region can co-operate in matters pertaining to the implementation of the convention to our mutual benefit and to promote the objectives of the convention.

I wish to thank all of the delegates for taking the time off from your busy schedules to travel to South Africa and to focus on matters related to the CWC. I wish you every success in your discussions and assure you that I will be looking forward to being informed of the outcome of the Workshop with great interest.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
10 July 2007