Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRETORIA2
2009-01-02 09:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
SOUTH AFRICA: AMENDING NSG GUIDELINES
how-toO 020905Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6848 INFO NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 000002
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM TRGV
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: AMENDING NSG GUIDELINES
REF: A. STATE 126581
B. DELABARRE-SEIDENSTRICKER E-MAIL
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MADELINE SEIDEN
STRICKER FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 000002
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM TRGV
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: AMENDING NSG GUIDELINES
REF: A. STATE 126581
B. DELABARRE-SEIDENSTRICKER E-MAIL
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MADELINE SEIDEN
STRICKER FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
1. (C) Summary: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy
Director for Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation
confirmed that Pretoria will respond mid-January to the U.S.
criteria-based proposal for enhancing control over transfers
of enrichment and reprocessing equipment and technology. DFA
also shared reservations regarding aspects of the proposal
and expressed frustration with the handling of Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) informal consultations. End summary.
2. (C) As reported Ref B, DFA Deputy Director for Nuclear
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Michiel Combrink informed
POLOFF December 5 that Ambassador Abdul Minty's statement
referenced in reftel, namely that the South African
Government will respond to the U.S. proposal mid-January,
remains SAG policy. Combrink added that the SAG takes
exception to what it considers an artificial deadline
regarding the proposal. He pointed out that South Africa
must look at the proposal in light of its obligations under
the "Pelindaba Treaty," aka the Pelindaba Text of the African
Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone Treaty, adding that the proposal
might require an additional protocol to Pelindaba.
3. (C/NF) Combrink informally told POLOFF that South Africa
was unhappy about not being included in all consultations
within the NSG on the proposal. Combrink also said the SAG
has concerns about "non-objective criteria" built into our
criteria-based approach. Combrink expressed concern that,
with regard to Brazil and Argentina, regional arrangements
were being viewed not as exceptions, but rather as new
criteria.
4. (C/NF) Combrink stressed that South Africa's objective is
to protect the NSG from taking action that can be viewed as
discriminatory. Combrink commented that NSG members have a
responsibility to build confidence among non-NSG members that
the control regime operates transparently and that its
decisions are based on sound international principles
BOST
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018
TAGS: ENRG ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM TRGV
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: AMENDING NSG GUIDELINES
REF: A. STATE 126581
B. DELABARRE-SEIDENSTRICKER E-MAIL
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MADELINE SEIDEN
STRICKER FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D
1. (C) Summary: Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy
Director for Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation
confirmed that Pretoria will respond mid-January to the U.S.
criteria-based proposal for enhancing control over transfers
of enrichment and reprocessing equipment and technology. DFA
also shared reservations regarding aspects of the proposal
and expressed frustration with the handling of Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) informal consultations. End summary.
2. (C) As reported Ref B, DFA Deputy Director for Nuclear
Disarmament and Nonproliferation Michiel Combrink informed
POLOFF December 5 that Ambassador Abdul Minty's statement
referenced in reftel, namely that the South African
Government will respond to the U.S. proposal mid-January,
remains SAG policy. Combrink added that the SAG takes
exception to what it considers an artificial deadline
regarding the proposal. He pointed out that South Africa
must look at the proposal in light of its obligations under
the "Pelindaba Treaty," aka the Pelindaba Text of the African
Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone Treaty, adding that the proposal
might require an additional protocol to Pelindaba.
3. (C/NF) Combrink informally told POLOFF that South Africa
was unhappy about not being included in all consultations
within the NSG on the proposal. Combrink also said the SAG
has concerns about "non-objective criteria" built into our
criteria-based approach. Combrink expressed concern that,
with regard to Brazil and Argentina, regional arrangements
were being viewed not as exceptions, but rather as new
criteria.
4. (C/NF) Combrink stressed that South Africa's objective is
to protect the NSG from taking action that can be viewed as
discriminatory. Combrink commented that NSG members have a
responsibility to build confidence among non-NSG members that
the control regime operates transparently and that its
decisions are based on sound international principles
BOST