DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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Missile-related issues
Missile Technology Control Regime
The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) held its twenty-fifth
Plenary Meeting in Buenos Aires from 11 to 15 April to review and evaluate
its activities and to further intensify its efforts to prevent missile programmes
and their proliferation. The Plenary was inaugurated by Alberto D’Alotto,
Secretary of Foreign Relations of Argentina, and chaired by Roberto Garcia
Moritán (Argentina).
MTCR Partners80 discussed the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and their means of delivery that constitute a threat to international
peace and security. They reaffirmed the importance of addressing these
challenges and the role of the MTCR in this regard. The MTCR guidelines
and controls list constitute an international export control standard, which
is increasingly adhered to by non-members of the MTCR. The Partners,
therefore, agreed to redouble their efforts to encourage and assist, upon
request, non-partner countries that support the objectives and purposes of the
Regime to contribute to the efforts of missile non-proliferation.
The Partners conducted extensive discussions on missile proliferation–
related activities worldwide. Their discussions covered: developments in
missile programmes and their proliferation; procurement activities and
techniques in support of such programmes; rapid technological change; the
role of intangible technology, brokering, and trans-shipment in facilitating
proliferation; and key technology trends in proliferation missile programmes.
These discussions demonstrated that additional export control efforts by
MTCR countries could have an even greater impact. The Partners also
underlined the importance of addressing transit and trans-shipment issues
and, in this context, the proliferation risk posed by countries with weak export
controls.
MTCR Partners exchanged information on their concerns about the
ongoing missile programmes in the Middle East, North-East Asia and South
Asia, including the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea, which could contribute to regional instability and supply
missile proliferation activities elsewhere.
Partners noted the direct relevance of United Nations Security Council
resolutions 1874 (2009) and 1929 (2010), inter alia, to MTCR export controls.
In this connection, they expressed their determination to implement these
80 The MTCR has 34 members: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria,
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.