Zuma at the opening of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary meeting, Cape
Town
19 April 2007
Chairperson
Distinguished delegates
It is an honour and a privilege for me to welcome you to South Africa for
the 2007 Plenary meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Allow me to extend a
special and warm welcome to all delegates and to express the hope that you will
not only engage in fruitful and productive discussions during the plenary, but
that you have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy your stay in our beautiful
city, Cape Town.
May I also take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Jose Artur Denot
Medeiros for his dedication and hard work during his tenure as Chair of the
NSG. Brazil and South Africa have excellent bilateral relations and our
co-operation extends to other collaborative forums such as the
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum and our pursuit of nuclear disarmament
through the New Agenda Coalition (NAC). As Brazil will continue to be a member
of the NSG Troika during the next year, we look forward to continuing our close
working relationship in this forum. We also wish to thank Germany for its kind
offer to host the 2008 NSG Plenary.
Distinguished delegates,
As we meet here today to consider how to further strengthen the controls on
the export of nuclear and nuclear-related material, equipment and technology,
it is imperative that we do not lose sight of the many people around the world
that continue to live in abject poverty. Many countries are not on track to
meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including on our own African
continent. Our efforts in the NSG should therefore contribute to creating a
better life for all and not hinder international co-operation on the peaceful
uses of nuclear energy, which potentially could strengthen and accelerate the
economic development of the economically marginalised parts of the world.
The reliance on fossil fuels as sources of energy has imposed constraints on
our development now and in the future. There are many initiatives to develop
alternative sources of energy and in this regard there is an increasing
recognition of the role that nuclear energy can play in meeting the energy
requirements of the 21st century. This has resulted in many countries reviewing
their national energy policies.
This renewed international focus on the expansion of nuclear energy as
renewable energy source not only requires increased international co-operation
to ensure the safety, security and peaceful use of nuclear energy, but also
impacts on the work of the NSG and its objective of fostering strengthened
national export controls through the wider implementation of comprehensive and
effective controls on the transfer of nuclear-related materials.
South Africa has consistently maintained the view that the ownership of
advanced capabilities that could be used for both peaceful and non-peaceful
purposes places a special responsibility on the states concerned to build
confidence with the international community that would remove any concerns
about any potential nuclear weapon proliferation. There is wide recognition
that confidence is at the heart of all nuclear issues. It requires all sides to
act in a manner that instils confidence. This places a special responsibility
also on the NSG to undertake its work in a transparent manner that will instil
confidence in its decisions and take into full consideration the needs and
aspirations of non-NSG partners. We should continue to guard against negative
perceptions that the NSG only advances the interests of its own members to the
exclusion of others.
Distinguished delegates,
The activities of the illicit network in nuclear technology to manufacture
nuclear weapons will continue to impact on the work of the NSG. It is incumbent
upon all of us to continuously review and improve controls over nuclear
material, technologies and equipment to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation
and illicit trafficking.
Our experience has, however, shown that no control regime, no matter how
comprehensive, can fully guarantee against abuse. The success of such controls
remains dependent on effective information-sharing and co-operation among the
relevant parties. We should also recognise the central role that the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can play in addressing this illicit
trade and we should consider how we can support the IAEA in this regard.
Distinguished delegates,
Whilst South Africa is committed to the continuous review and strengthening
of measures aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, we believe that real progress in securing our world from the
threat of nuclear weapons can only be achieved through concomitant progress in
the area of nuclear disarmament.
Nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing
processes that require continuous and irreversible progress on both fronts. It
is only through full compliance by all States with their respective legal
obligations in the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament that peaceful
uses of nuclear energy can thrive for the benefit of all.
The democratically elected South African Government has therefore since its
inauguration in May 1994, committed itself to a policy of non-proliferation,
disarmament and arms control, which covers all weapons of mass destruction and
extends to concerns relating to the proliferation of conventional weapons.
In this context the government at that early stage already adopted a policy
whereby South Africa should be an active participant in the various
non-proliferation regimes and suppliers groups; adopt positions publicly
supporting the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with the goal
of promoting international peace and security; and use its position as a member
of the suppliers' regimes and of the Africa Group and the Non-Aligned Movement
to promote the importance of non-proliferation and to ensure that these
controls do not become the means whereby developing countries are denied access
to advanced technologies required for their development.
Distinguished delegates,
South Africa is honoured with the confidence you have shown by bestowing on
us the responsibility to chair the NSG for the next year. With your
co-operation and assistance we will together achieve our goals.
I wish you success in concluding this Plenary meeting.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 April 2007
