regarding the development of a new class of submarines
5 December 2006
The South African Government has taken note of the announcement made by
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday, 4 December 2006, regarding the
intention of the United Kingdom to build a new class of ballistic
missile-carrying submarines as delivery system for its nuclear weapons.
With its current Vanguard-class submarines reaching the end of their life,
it is disappointing that the United Kingdom has not used this opportunity to
demonstrate its commitment to the irreversible elimination of its nuclear
weapons arsenal, consistent with its nuclear disarmament obligations and
commitments.
This would have been a landmark decision, to be followed by others, to
eliminate all weapons of mass destruction. The continued development of nuclear
weapons and the qualitative improvements to these weapons and their delivery
systems remain of serious concern to the international community.
South Africa is firmly of the view that nuclear weapons do not, in any
possible way, contribute to international peace and security. These instruments
of destruction are therefore not a source of security and do not serve any
deterrent purpose whatsoever. Neither can they be regarded as a tool to prevent
proliferation or as a weapon against any terrorist threat.
South Africa believes that the continued retention of nuclear weapons by
some countries weakens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and could serve as
a logical foundation for others to also aspire to develop such
capabilities.
It is our hope that the United Kingdom would honour its "unequivocal
undertaking" towards nuclear disarmament made during the 2000 Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Conference, including through the adoption of
appropriate disarmament measures in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible
manner.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
5 December 2006
