The United States and South Africa on Friday completed a workshop aimed at helping officials in the African nation to identify weapons of mass destruction and related materials (see GSN, Aug. 6).
Such capabilities are key to preventing the smuggling of unconventional-weapon items that could be used in terrorist attacks, according to the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration.
"Our partnership on export control with South Africa is an important part of our joint efforts to prevent WMD materials, equipment and technology from falling into the hands of terrorists and proliferators, and is critical to implementing President [Barack] Obama's unprecedented national security agenda," NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino said in a released statement. "South Africa is an important nonproliferation partner, and this new area of partnership will further international efforts to prevent illicit WMD-related commodity transfers.
The workshop involved officials from the nuclear agency, U.S. national laboratories and the South African Revenue Service and Energy Department. It was designed with a "train-the-trainer" focus and designed to suit the unique needs of South African "front-line inspectors." Topics included the development of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and the materials and equipment used in producing such armaments.
The NNSA International Nonproliferation Export Control Program created the commodity identification workshop and has worked with more than 60 nations to augment trade controls. The program, in conjunction with a State Department export control effort, has educated more than 12,000 trade monitoring officials since Sept. 11, 2001 (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Nov. 20).