Public Statement - 12 December 2003

The ninth Plenary meeting of the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA)* was held in Vienna, 10-12 December 2003, chaired by Ambassador Kenneth C. Brill (United States). 

This year Participating States carried out a wide-ranging review or “Assessment” of the functioning of the Wassenaar Arrangement. Important steps were taken to enhance export controls on conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, with special emphasis on strengthening the capabilities of member governments to combat the threat of terrorism.  Building on the results of the Assessment Plenary a Ministerial Statement was adopted emphasising that continued collaboration between Participating States in the Wassenaar Arrangement will make a significant contribution to global security.

The 2003 Plenary approved a number of major initiatives, which break important new ground for the Wassenaar Arrangement and make significant contributions to the fight against terrorism by means of WA export controls. These included tightening controls over Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS), agreeing to enhance transparency of small arms and light weapons (SALW) transfers, establishing elements for national legislation on arms brokering, and adopting end-use oriented controls encouraging member governments to impose export controls on certain unlisted items when necessary to support United Nations arms embargoes.

Recognising the continuing threat posed to civil aviation by unauthorised proliferation of MANPADS, Participating States adopted a more comprehensive agreement that includes provision for long-term measures to tighten security over these weapons.  In particular, the measures are aimed at preventing acquisition by and diversion of these weapons to terrorists. Participating States agreed to encourage other states to apply the same strict safeguards to control MANPADS.

The agreement on small arms and light weapons (SALW) reflected concerns that these items can exacerbate regional conflicts and are among the weapons of choice for terrorists.  Participating States agreed to expand the scope of mandatory reporting of arms transfers by adding a new category on SALW to Appendix 3 of the Initial Elements.  They also agreed to lower the reporting threshold for transfers of artillery systems.

Participating States agreed to impose strict controls on the activities of those who engage in the brokering of conventional arms by introducing and implementing adequate laws and regulations based on agreed "Elements for Effective Legislation on Arms Brokering."

Concerning end-use oriented controls, Participating States agreed that they should require governmental authorisation for the transfer of non-listed dual-use items to destinations subject to a binding United Nations Security Council (UNSC) arms embargo, any relevant regional arms embargo either binding on Participating States or to which a Participating State has voluntarily adhered, when the items are intended for a military end-use.  (See "Statement of Understanding on Control of Non-Listed Dual-Use Items.")

Participating States agreed to support, by all appropriate means, the efforts of the UNSC to prevent illegal arms transfers to terrorist groups and to all governments and groups under UNSC arms embargoes.

The Plenary agreed to a number of amendments to WA control lists, including strengthened controls on certain types of microwave electronic devices, semiconductor lasers, navigation equipment, etc., which will be published shortly.  Participating States, in their review of lists, also took account of advances in technology and market availability.  A rationalisation of WA export controls was introduced in areas such as electronic components and telecommunications equipment.  Participating States also worked to make the existing control text easier for commercial exporters and licensing authorities to understand and apply.  They recognised that greater transparency would be achieved if the “most sensitive” items on WA control lists were more clearly identified.

Participating States agreed to enhance co-operation with a view to better harmonising their export control policies.

Participating States reiterated that the Wassenaar Arrangement is open, on a global and non-discriminatory basis, to prospective adherents that comply with the agreed criteria, which were updated at the Plenary (See revised Appendix 4 of the Initial Elements). Participating States actively discussed and agreed to further study in the course of 2004 pending membership applications with a view to examining the possibility of their acceptance on a case by case basis.

The Plenary took steps to broaden the Arrangement’s outreach to non-Wassenaar members and to relevant international institutions, e.g. the other export control regimes. Representing Participating States, the Plenary Chairman began meetings in 2003 with some non-Wassenaar members to explain the goals of the Arrangement and to encourage them to apply similar measures.

Members of the Plenary thanked Ambassador Kenneth C. Brill (U.S.) for his major contribution as Plenary Chairman to the work of the Wassenaar Arrangement in 2003, Ambassador Claudio Moreno (Italy) for his leadership during this year’s Assessment, and Mr. Ioannis Anastasakis (Greece) for a successful list review.  They also thanked the Head of Secretariat, Ambassador Sune Danielsson, and his staff for their support.

Participating States agreed to hold the next assessment of the overall functioning of the WA in 2007. The next regular WA Plenary meeting will take place in Vienna in December 2004. Ambassador Elsa Kelly (Argentina) will assume the Chair of the Plenary on 1 January 2004.

Vienna, 12 December 2003

*  The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies was established in July 1996 by 33 Participating States on the basis of the Initial Elements. Meetings are normally held in Vienna, Austria, where the Arrangement is based.  The Participating States of the Wassenaar Arrangement are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States