Commerce Dept. on Wassenaar "Best Practices" List

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL
INITIATIVE ON ENFORCEMENT OF EXPORT CONTROLS

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that the
Wassenaar Arrangement, a 33-country group which promotes international
cooperation on issues concerning conventional arms and dual-use
technology transfer, has adopted a statement of "best practices" for
export enforcement to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction.

The participating states affirmed the importance of members having
effective, transparent and national law-based enforcement systems and
agreed to a list of 18 non-binding enforcement "best practices." The
"best practices" are the most successful enforcement policies and
techniques used in the various Wassenaar countries.

"I applaud today's action. The Wassenaar countries are sending a
message that export enforcement is a key component of international
efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of
terrorists and countries of concern," said Commerce Under Secretary
for Export Administration William A. Reinsch.

The "best practices" initiative was developed by Department of
Commerce export enforcement officials in concert with other
like-minded countries and unanimously approved by all 33 member
countries.

"1'm pleased we were able to work with the other countries to develop
this initiative," said Commerce Assistant Secretary for Export
Enforcement F. Amanda DeBusk.

"The adoption of the 'best practices' demonstrates that other
countries share the U.S. view that an effective export control system
requires first-rate export enforcement capabilities," she said.

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and
Dual-use Goods and Technologies was established in July 1996 and is
based in Vienna, Austria.