Brief Reports of the Three March 2010 Workshops/Conferences Hosted/Arranged by the Arms Management Programme of the Institute for Security Studies

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1 Brief Reports of the Three March 2010 Workshops/Conferences Hosted/Arranged by the Arms Management Programme of the Institute for Security Studies 1. Preparing Africa for the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 2010 Review Conference: On March 2010, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa s Development and the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Project and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), with the financial support of the United Kingdom s High Commission to South Africa and the Royal Norwegian Government convened a workshop in at Kievits Kroon, Pretoria, South Africa, to discuss the role of African states in curtailing the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The primary objective of the workshop was to assist and build the capacity of the African states present to fully participate in the debates both during, and in the period leading up to, the May 2010 nuclear Non Proliferation Treat (NPT) Review Conference. The workshop also highlighted the expected outcome, likely debates and possible sensitive areas of the Review Conference. A secondary objective of the workshop was to re invigorate African policy and action in relation to weapons of mass destruction in general. The workshop also aimed to develop a greater understanding in Africa of the Nuclear Weapon States views on nuclear non proliferation and disarmament and build on efforts to re energise the international consensus around strengthening the NPT's three pillars disarmament, nonproliferation, and peaceful nuclear co operation. The workshop thereby reinforced efforts to ensure universality, verification and full implementation of key provisions of the NPT, which in turn promotes progress in nuclear disarmament, as well as increased adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreements and reduces tensions between Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) and Non Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS). In addition, a one day session was held to discuss and debate current proposals for multinational assurances to the nuclear fuel cycle, the UK Led nuclear fuel assurance and an African view of multilateral controls of the nuclear fuel cycle. Notable participants and presenters included: Dr Nicola Brewer, British High Commissioner in Pretoria; Zimbabwe s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Boniface Chidyausiku, Chairperson of the Third (2009) Preparatory Committee of the NPT Review Conference and Chairperson elect of Main Committee I at the 2010 Review Conference; Lawrence Obisakin, Head of the Africa Group at the UN in New York; Van Zyl de Villiers, from the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) and Jean du Preez, of the Comprehensive Teat Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). 1

2 2. Beyond Entry into Force of the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba): an Experts Workshop on Establishing the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) From March 2010, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa s Development and the Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction Project and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) convened a workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, in order to: a. Provide an opportunity for states and experts to exchange ideas and propose administrative, financial, and technical guidelines outlining possible procedures and operating modalities of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) as provided for in the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba); b. Examine and analyse Article 12 (Mechanism for Compliance), Annex III (AFCONE) and Annex IV (Complaints Procedure and Settlement of Disputes) of the Treaty of Pelindaba; c. Contribute to a successful First Conference of Parties to the Treaty of Pelindaba by providing intellectual input into the official meeting and the AFCONE establishment process. The Workshop was been made possible with the generous financial support of the Royal Norwegian Government. The workshop brought together participants from the following States: Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, Apologies were received from Algeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Libya, Morocco, Senegal and Tanzania. The following inter governmental and civil society organisations were present: African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) Office of Disarmament Affairs (ODA), Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the South African national focal point of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA), South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit, Anti Personal Landmines Implementation Support Unit, Egyptian Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFA), United Nations Regional Centre (UNREC), University of the Western Cape (Politics Department). Country delegates represented either their Department/Ministries of Multilateral/Foreign Affairs (the national body responsible for international and continental treaties and conventions such as the Non Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty of Pelindaba), and/or the appropriate national entity responsible for implementing safeguards and other regulations relating to nuclear safety and security and nuclear disarmament and non proliferation. High profile attendees included: Ambassador B.G. Chidyausiku, Zimbabwe s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and President of the Third and Final Preparatory Committee of the 2010 NPT Review Cycle; Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin 2

3 Minister, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations and chair of the Africa Group, Dr Patricia Lewis, Scientist in Residence at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies as well as Johan Rautenbach, Director of Legal Affairs at the IAEA. Topics included: An overview of the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, including the status of the Treaty of Pelindaba and its provisions; the treaty as a step towards a Nuclear Weapon Free World; the role of NWFZs in strengthening the NPT regime; an introduction to Article 12 (Mechanism for Compliance), including the provisions of Article 12 and ensuring compliance and enhancing peaceful Nuclear Use, the roles and functions of AFCONE as described in the treaty and what needs to be done to realise these; potential lessons to be learned from other relevant treaties and entities, including the Anti Personal Landmines Convention ISU, the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention ISU, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation CTBTO and the Chemical Weapons Convention OPCW. In addition, the following was examined and analysed: AFCONE s relationship to related/allied organisations such as: the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development (AFRA), which was founded in 1990 to help establish a regional arrangement for co operation in the field of nuclear science and technology in Africa; and, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), which not only reinforces the Treaty of Pelindaba s no test obligation but has an important focus on the use of its verification technologies for civil and scientific applications (Tsunami warning, volcanic and seismic monitoring, etc). Importantly, participants received a report from the African Union representatives present on the Treaty Depository s current plans to host the first Conference of Parties as required under Article 14 of the Treaty. 3. Africa Regional Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions From March 2010, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) hosted the Africa Regional Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions at the Premier Hotel in Pretoria, South Africa. The Arms Management Programme of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Regional Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided logistical support for the Conference and acted as the Secretariat. The Conference was made possible with the generous financial support of the Royal Norwegian Government. These finances were administrated by ISS. The purpose, aims and objectives of the Africa Regional Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions were to: a. Inform states in the region about the Convention on Cluster Munitions, particularly those who have not signed the Convention; 3

4 b. Maintain the political momentum and international visibility of the Convention on Cluster Munitions between the Oslo Signing Conference (December 2008) and the 1st Meeting of States Parties to be held in Laos PDR, from 8 12 November 2010; c. Enhance understanding on the provisions of the Convention and the national steps needed for ratification and implementation; d. Promote universalisation of the Convention. All African countries or territories were each invited by South Africa to delegate two experts responsible for implementing the Convention in their respective countries or territories to participate in the Conference. The following attended: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt (Observer), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, representatives of the following attended: Embassy of the Republic of Austria, Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, Embassy of Chad, Ireland Embassy, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain and the USA Embassy. African representatives of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) were also invited to participate the CMC is an international coalition of around 350 non governmental organisations (NGOs) working in 85 countries to encourage urgent action against cluster munitions. Expert and resource organisations invited included: i. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ii. Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) iii. Handicap International Belgium iv. Uganda Landmine Survivors Association v. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) vi. United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) vii. Geneva Centre for International Humanitarian Demining (GCIHD). The Opening panel sessions included the participation of: i. Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, DDG, Ambassador and Special Representative for Disarmament and NEPAD, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa ii. Mr Berihu Mesele, Cluster Munition Survivor from Ethiopia iii. Ms. Annick Bouvier, Deputy Head of Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) iv. Ms. Almaz Gebru, Senior Advisor, United Nations Development Programme, Regional Centre v. Mr. Kennedy Mabasa, Ceasefire Campaign, the South African representative of the Cluster Munition Coalition. The Closing panel sessions included the participation of: i. Ms. Gry Larsen, State Secretary/Deputy Minister, Royal Norwegian Government ii. Mr Rob Wensley, Deputy Director: Conventional Arms, Department of International Relations and Co operation, South Africa. 4

5 The Programme consisted of the following sessions and topics: i. Understanding the Convention on Cluster Munitions ii. Key Provisions and Obligations of the Convention on Cluster Munitions iii. The CCM and its relationship to other instruments of International Humanitarian Law iv. The Africa Regional Conferences on Cluster Munitions and the Importance of the Convention in Africa v. Status of the Convention in Africa vi. The Importance of Universalisation vii. National Implementation, Co operation and Assistance viii. Promoting a Common Understanding of the Provisions of the Convention in Africa ix. Stockpile Destruction: Technical Solutions x. Survivor Assistance in Africa xi. Partnerships for Compliance between States, International Organisations and Civil Society xii. United Nations Support to National Implementation and Capacity Development xiii. Operational Challenges and Responses in Implementing the CCM xiv. National Legislation, Transparency Measures and Reporting Importantly a Session was devoted to the forthcoming global meeting in advance of the entry into force of the Convention to be hosted by the Government of Chile in June 2010 as well as the First Meeting of State Parties in November This session was privileged to have Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Director General, Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR as Chair. During the discussions, several African state representatives indicated that there was progress in either signing or ratifying the Convention in their countries and many hoped to be in Laos PDR as full States Parties. The Norwegian government came in for special praise for taking the lead in both raising awareness of the humanitarian disaster caused by the use of the weapon and for developing an intense process of consultations, which eventually led to the Convention as well as for its continued work at the national level in many countries of the world. 5