Date

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4 July 1991

SOUTH AFRICA AND TANZANIA JOIN NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION  TREATY

The decisions of South Africa and Tanzania to accede to the  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty were today commended by the  Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Senator Gareth  Evans.

"I have urged the South African and Tanzanian Governments to  take these decisions over many years and welcome them on  behalf of the Australian Government," Senator Evans said.

"It is further evidence of the determination of the  international community to strengthen the nuclear nonÂ­ proliferation regime in the aftermath of the Gulf war, and

the current non compliance by Iraq with UN Security Council  Resolution 687 again underlines the need for this."

Accession to the Treaty by South Africa and Tanzania will  make an important contribution to the goal of universal  adherence to the Treaty.

Their decisions come soon after the accession to the NPT by  Zambia in May and France's announcement in June of its inÂ­ principle decision to adhere to the Treaty, both of which  have been welcomed by the Australian Government.

The NPT is the most widely adhered to arms control treaty in  the world today, Senator Evans said. When South Africa and  France sign, membership of the Treaty will be 146 States.

Accession to the Treaty provides a binding international  commitment on non-nuclear weapon States.Parties not to  develop nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

It provides for the inspection by the International Atomic  Energy Agency of all nuclear material in all nuclear  facilities in those States, thus providing assurances  against the diversion of nuclear material to any military or  explosive purpose.

Senator Evans said South Africa's accession to the NPT would  provide a major impetus for other nations to join the Treaty  and Australia would continue to urge all countries to sign.

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"I look forward in particular to the early membership of  Zimbabwe and Namibia to complete NPT membership in Southern  Africa and to early Chinese membership of the NPT,” he said.

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