• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

27 February 1998

TEXT: U.S., SOUTH AFRICA NORMALIZE DEFENSE TRADE TIES

(2/27 Gore-Mbeki joint announcement) (380)
WASHINGTON -- In a joint statement issued February 27, U.S. Vice
President Al Gore and South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
announced the normalization of defense trade between the United States
and South Africa, effective immediately, with "the suspension of
debarment of South African companies which had been prohibited from
U.S. defense trade."
Following is the text of the joint announcement taken from the White
House home page:
(BEGIN TEXT)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
For Immediate Release
February 27, 1998
JOINT STATEMENT
BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND DEPUTY PRESIDENT MBEKI
South African Export Controls-Normalization of Defense Trade Involving
Armscor, Denel, Fuchs Electronics and Related Entities
Vice President Al Gore and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki jointly
announced today the normalization of defense trade between the U.S.
and South Africa. This will take effect immediately through the
suspension of debarment of South African companies which had been
prohibited from U.S. defense trade.
Until now, the South African parastatal companies Armscor, Denel and
its divisions including Kentron, as well as a private firm, Fuchs
Electronics, have been prohibited from participating in transactions
involving U.S. origin defense articles, defense services and related
technology because of actions undertaken during the apartheid era.
In July, 1996, Vice President Gore and South African Deputy President
Mbeki agreed to a framework for resolution of the issues related to
the violations. It included the establishment of export control
compliance programs in each company. The U.S. and South Africa have
each determined that these compliance programs are satisfactory. The
programs, which were reviewed by U.S. experts February 20-26, 1998, in
South Africa, are designed to ensure compliance with U.S. defense
trade law and regulations when handling U.S. origin defense items.
The suspension of debarment opens the door for normalized defense
trade between the U.S. and South Africa. Requests to the U.S.
Government concerning defense trade transactions that involve the
South African companies will no longer be subject to a presumption of
denial. Instead, they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, in
accordance with foreign policy and national security criteria.
(END TEXT)