SOUTH AFRICA: INTERNATIONAL ARMS MARKET

Описание: (4 Jun 1995) English/Nat
South Africa is trying to grab a bigger share of the international arms market - after years of isolation because of sanctions.
The industry is attempting to play down its embargo busting past.
But new allegations have surfaced - this time that South African made weapons have found their way to Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
South Africa has come a long way since the days when apartheid gave it a pariah status in the international community.
The country's weapons industry flourished, as the government violated embargoes prohibiting the trade in arms between the outside world and the Pretoria regime.
Organisations like the Armaments Corporation of South Africa, (Armscor), a government weapons procurement agency, were used to break international sanctions.
But these days Armscor is keen to distance itself from the past, and like the new multi racial government, is looking ahead to the future.
SOUNDBITE:
"This past year has been an extremely exciting one for our whole country, for our rainbow nation. We've proudly re-entered the international arena, and the doors are open, the welcome signs are up. President Mandela has displayed outstanding leadership him and his government. We need to remember that we come into our democratic era, out of the dark past - the difficult past."
SUPER CAPTION: Ronnie Kasril, Deputy Minister of Defence
But the government has been embarrassed by allegations that South African weapons have found their way into Croatia - in violation of an arms embargo - and were supplied to Yemen during the country's civil war.
The Defence Ministry is playing down the allegations.
SOUNDBITE:
"A statement was issued, information was provided, and the minister and I have not come across any factual basis to any abuses."
SUPER CAPTION: Ronnie Kasril, Deputy Minister of Defence
But in spite of these reassurances the issue of illegal arms sales refuses to go away.
An American based human rights group claims that South Africa continues to supply weapons to the former Rwandan government. The regime which is now in exile, is credited with murdering 500 thousand Tutsis during the country's bloody civil war.
The South African government has denied all knowledge of the allegations and has asked those with any information to come forward.
Whilst supporting the government position, Armscor say's that South Africa cannot survive without its arms industry. Last year the country exported 854 (m) million Rand (244 (m) million U-S dollars) in weaponry.
SOUNDBITE:
"South Africa sells arms because the arms industry creates jobs. Today we are employing in our arms industry, approximately sixty thousand people...and if you would multiply that by four it gives you some idea about what contribution it makes to the nation as a whole, as far as job creation is concerned. It creates wealth, it's a driver of technology - which also has perils in the commercial sector."
SUPER CAPTION: TJ De Waal, Managing Director "Armscor"
The government has promised to exercise greater control over the sale of weapons.

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