Joint Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers

As a contribution to the objectives of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the countries participating* in the Sofia Conference on export controls, held on 14-15 December 1999, will intensify their efforts to promote greater cooperation, responsibility and transparency with regard to their respective arms export control policies.

While reaffirming that the sale of arms is a legitimate aspect of international trade, they share the goal of preventing and combating illicit arms trafficking, in particular of small arms and light weapons, especially through concrete measures in the region. They recognize the need to distinguish between arms transfers that legitimately contribute to national defense and security, and those that exacerbate instability, tension, violence and loss of human lives in regions of conflict or that may help build arsenals of irresponsible recipients.

They reaffirm their respective commitments in the field of arms transfers to abide by the relevant standards and decisions of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union and other international organizations and institutions, as applicable, and to incorporate these standards and decisions, as needed and appropriate, in their national legislation and practice.

Taking note of the aspirations of some states participating in the conference to become members of the Wassenaar Arrangement, they acknowledge its important role as well as that of other international non-proliferation regimes in enhancing the effectiveness of export controls.

In order to accomplish these goals they declare their readiness to expand sharing of information on transfers of arms, to exercise maximum restraint in transfers to areas of conflict, and to refrain from sales of arms and dual-use goods and technologies to irresponsible end-users and for irresponsible end-uses.

Greece has expressed full support for this Declaration.

The representative of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE express full support for this Declaration.

Participants in the Sofia Conference invite all states and organizations involved in the Stability Pact process to join this Declaration.

STATEMENT ON HARMONIZATION OF END-USE/END-USER CERTIFICATES

Sofia, December 15, 1999

In furtherance of efforts to increase regional stability and cooperation and to strengthen responsible national export control policies, the countries participating* in the Sofia Conference on export controls, held on 14-15 December 1999, declare their readiness to develop harmonized information for end-use/end-user certificates, in line with best existing practices, to be used for items which are subject to export controls.

They share the understanding that end-use/end-user certificates issued on the basis of best existing provisions and practices would further reduce the danger of illegal transfers.

They believe that the minimum information required in all end-use/end-user certificates is: name and address of foreign end-user; end-use, as applicable; country of ultimate destination; commodity and its description; quantity; intermediate consignees and purchasers, and review or certification by the respective government institution.

They underline the need to minimize the number of government institutions and officials authorized to issue and sign end-use/end-user certificates.

The names of the institutions and officials authorized to issue end-use/end-user certificates will be communicated to other governments in order to help them verify end-use/end-user certificates upon their request.

Greece has expressed full support for this Statement.

The representative of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the representative of the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE express full support for this Statement.

Participants in the Sofia Conference invite all states and organizations involved in the Stability Pact process to join this Statement