Title:  "Missile Technology Control Regime Concludes Canberra Meeting." Australian release on the March 8-11 meetings of the Missile Technology Control Regime. (930312)

Date:  19930312

Text:
*EPF510

03/12/93 *

MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME CONCLUDES CANBERRA MEETING (Text: Release of March 11 on March 8-11 meeting) (390) Canberra -- Partners to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreed in Canberra this week that the "MTCR Guidelines for Sensitive Missile-relevant Transfers of April 16, 1987, and extended at the Oslo Plenary of July 1992, remain an essential mechanism for the prevention of proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

"Partners further noted, with satisfaction, that the decision at Oslo to extend the coverage of the Regime's guidelines was fully implemented, as agreed by all partners by January 7, 1993," according to a release by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Following is the text of that March 11 release: (begin text) A Plenary Meeting of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) was held in Canberra from 8-11 March. It was chaired by Australia.

Partners welcomed Iceland as the newest member of the Regime, attending the Plenary for the first time. This multilateral non-proliferation regime thus comprises the following 23 countries:

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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.

Partners agreed that the MTCR Guidelines for Sensitive Missile-relevant Transfers of 16 April 1987, and extended at the Oslo Plenary of July 1992, remain an essential mechanism for the prevention of proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. Partners further noted, with satisfaction, that the decision at Oslo to extend the coverage of the Regime's guidelines was fully implemented as agreed by all partners by 7 January 1993.

Partners agreed to give further detailed consideration to future directions for the Regime. Such consideration would be aimed at ensuring that the Regime can curb, even more effectively, missile proliferation taking into account their concern about continuing exports of missiles and technology by non-members suppliers.

Partners particularly welcomed applications from Argentina and Hungary to participate in the MTCR and agreed to invite Argentina and Hungary to become Partners, to be effective in accordance with arrangements agreed by the Partners.

The next Plenary will be held in Switzerland towards the end of 1993. (end text) NNNN