Statement by the Press Secretary on the Agreement to Establish the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.

20 December, 1995

1. Japan welcomes the agreement to establish an international arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies at the meeting of countries concerned which was held in Wassenaar, a suburb of The Hague, Netherlands, on December 19 (Japan time: 20).
   
   
2. One of the main tasks for the post-Cold War international community has been to prevent the excessive transfer and accumulation of conventional arms that could lead to regional instability. Japan highly values the agreement to establish an international arrangement in which Russia and East European countries also take part to control the export of conventional arms and related dual-use goods and technologies, and intends to cooperate for the future development of this international export control arrangement.
   
   

1. This export control arrangement will be called "The Wassenaar Arrangement" after the name of the city where the meeting has been held for more than two years. Among 28 participating countries are Japan, the U.S., Russia and European countries. Its secretariat will be located in Vienna, Austria. The first meeting for the establishment will be held in April next year.
   
   
2. The Wassenaar Arrangement aims at promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies. The countries participating in the arrangement will exchange detailed information on arms and dual-use goods and carry out coordinated export control.
   
   

The Wassenaar Arrangement
on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies

Final Declaration

1. Representatives of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States met in Wassenaar, the Netherlands, on 18 and 19 December 1995.
   
   
2. The representatives agreed to establish the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.
   
   
3. The representatives established initial elements of the new arrangement, to be submitted to their respective Governments for approval.
   
   
4. They also established a Preparatory Committee of the Whole to start work in January 1996.
   
   
5. The representatives agreed to locate the Secretariat of The Wassenaar Arrangement in Vienna, Austria. The first plenary meeting will take place in Vienna on 2 and 3 April, 1996.

The Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, on 19 December 1995.