Regional Conference on Export Controls
Chairman's Summary

Upon the invitation by the Bulgarian Government, a Regional Conference on Export Controls was held in Sofia on December 14-15, 1999, under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. The Conference was co-sponsored by the Government of the USA. Twelve countries from South-Eastern and Central Europe participated in the forum. Representatives of the Stability Pact Special Co-ordinator, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the European Commission and the Wassenaar Arrangement also attended.

In his opening address Mr. Valentin Vassilev, Minister of Trade and Tourism of Bulgaria, stressed the primary objective to increase co-operation and co-ordination among states in the region to prevent illegal arms flows, as well as to develop effective arms and dual-use export control systems.

The discussions during the four working sessions focused on implementation of non-proliferation policies and the establishment of effective national export control systems. Several delegations presented various cases demonstrating different aspects of their export control systems and specific enforcement measures. The Bulgarian delegation offered detailed information on the national export control system, including policy development and interagency co-ordination, as well as international and regional co-operation in the field.

The US delegation made a number of presentations on the importance of enforcement of export controls and the contribution of information sharing to this aim. It was stressed that the countries of the region should know best the potential violators and trade routes used in illicit transactions. It is through sharing of information across borders that countries could best be able to combat illicit arms trafficking. Another presentation discussed the growing internationalization of product development, which is an important reason for regional co-operation. US participants also dwelled on law enforcement's role in export controls, information sharing, developing sources of information, use and effectiveness of criminal and administrative penalties, enforcement mechanisms, and the importance of controls of intangible technologies. The need to enhance co-operation and co-ordination among policy licensing and law enforcement agencies in their export control efforts was emphasizied. Case-studies that demonstrated investigations and prosecutions of export control violations were provided. Representatives of the US Department of Commerce referred to several sources of information for use in export control issues.

The delegation of Poland made a presentation on the catch-all regulations.

Two proposals for joint political documents, stemming from the discussions, were elaborated during the Conference.

Participants agreed on a text of a Joint Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers, emphasising the will of the participants to intensify their efforts in promoting greater co-operation, responsibility and transparency in this regard. They declared their readiness to expand sharing of information on transfers of arms, to exercise maximum restraint in transfers to conflict areas, and to refrain from sales of arms and dual-use goods and technologies to irresponsible end-users and for irresponsible end-uses. The countries agreed to prevent and combat illicit arms trafficking through concrete measures in the region, and to abide by relevant international standards and decisions.

Participants also agreed in principle on a text of a Statement on Harmonization of End-Use/End User Certificates, expressing readiness to develop harmonized information for end-user/end use certificates based on the best existing provisions and practices. There was a common understanding that the number of government institutions and officials authorized to issue and sign the certificates should be minimized, as well as that the names of these institutions and officials should be communicated to other governments upon request.

There was a common understanding that the texts of both documents were agreed ad referendum, and that all states that have subscribed to them will notify officially Bulgaria as Chair of the Conference about their consent to join the Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers and the Statement on Harmonization of End-Use/End User Certificates. This notification should be done as soon as possible, but not later than 17 January 2000.

The delegations of Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey and the United States declared that they adopt the Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers already at this Conference.

Various ideas were also discussed on possible follow-up measures. A proposal was made for a follow-up meeting in January 2000, possibly in Vienna, to exchange information on the implementation of the two joint political documents. Ideas for further follow-up measures in 2000 and adherence of other states and organizations to the goals of the two documents were also discussed.

The participants supported the idea to invite all states and organizations involved in the Stability Pact process to join the Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers and the Statement on Harmonization of End-Use/End User Certificates.

In accordance with the conclusions of the Oslo Meeting of the Stability Pact Working Table 3 /13-14 October 1999/, Bulgaria will report on the results of the Conference to the next meeting of the Working Table 3 in Sarajevo in February 2000.