Issued by: SA Communication Service
South Africa made a further commitment to controlling the spread of weapons of mass destruction when it was accepted as a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) on September 13.
South Africa's MTCR membership was approved after the 24-member group of member countries had satisfied itself that South African control measures were adequate to control technology and equipment used in the development of ballistic missiles.
MTCR membership presents potential commercial opportunities for South Africa's defence-related industries to engage in joint ventures with other member countries under the agreed strict controls.
South Africa will now qualify to participate in the forthcoming MTCR annual plenary meeting, which will be held in Bonn, Germany from 9 to 12 October 1995.
There has been growing international concern that a number of countries could be attempting to obtain technologies and material and equipment which could be used in developing weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery. As certain advanced missile-related technologies can be applied for both aggressive and peaceful purposes (eg space launch vehicles), the MTCR was established to control the tansfer of these dual-use materials and technologies.
The MTCR is an informal group of high-technology countries which aims to prevent the proliferation of delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction. Member countries do so through voluntarily controlling the export of unmanned delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction and of specified dual-use technology and equipment that can be used in its manufacture. Dual-use technology is technology that can be used for peaceful as well as military purposes.
Other member countries of the group are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The South African Government, as far back as 30 June 1995, announced its intention to adhere to MTCR export controls (guidelines) and to terminate South Africa's former space launch vehicle programme. The Government has since been implementing the MTCR controls as if South Africa was a member, so as to satisfy membership requirements. The next logical step has now been taken with South Africa becoming a member of the MTCR.
The Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act (No 87 of 1993) controls the movement of equipment and technologies which can be used in the production of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. This Act is administered through the Council for the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, which controls the import and export of these technologies, equipment and material.
Effective control measures are a requirement for membership of the MTCR. Regulations were consequently published in the Government Gazette on 14 October 1994 to regulate the import and export of unmanned delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction and of specified dual-use technology and equipment that can be used in its manufacture. South Afric subsequently applied for membership in December 1994.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA 14 SEPTEMBER 1995