South African Government Support for the Development of Nuclear Capacity Programmes by Iran and North Korea

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 1634

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 34 OF 21 NOVEMBER 2005

1643. Mr D H M Gibson (DA) to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Whether Iran and North Korea should be allowed to develop a nuclear capability; if not, why not; if so, what is the basis of the Government's support for such programmes?
N2160E

REPLY:

South Africa supports the inalienable right of all countries to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes only and in conformity with the NPT, particularly to further advance socio-economic development. At the same time, South Africa has also consistently emphasised the importance of full adherence to all nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation obligations by all States Parties to the NPT.

Article III of the NPT requires all non-nuclear-weapon State Parties to the Treaty to accept comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards in order to enable the Agency to verify the non-diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. South Africa has therefore called on the States not party to the NPT to join the Treaty and to place all facilities and material under comprehensive IAEA safeguards. Likewise, South Africa continually emphasises the importance of all States co-operating closely with the IAEA to enable the Agency to fulfil its statutory mandate and to provide the necessary assurances that material is not diverted to non-peaceful activities.