Strategic export control

Armenia attaches great importance to universal and effective implementation of all non-proliferation treaties and regimes, as real tools to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Armenia believes that real progress in securing our world from the threat of nuclear weapons can be achieved through strengthening the international measures aimed to prevent WMD proliferation.

Armenia has a wide range of legislative measures in place to prevent the proliferation of WMD including by individuals or entities. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the ratified international treaties form an integral part of Armenian legal system. In case of contradiction with national laws the international treaties prevail over national laws.

Correspondingly, the pillars of this legislative framework are the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (Armenian Parliament has adopted a resolution on accession to the NPT on September 24, 1991, just three days after adopting a declaration of independence on September 21, 1991 and deposited the necessary instruments of accession with the depositaries of the NPT - the Russian Federation, as the successor state of former USSR, on June 21, 1993 and USA on July 15, 1993), as well as the Chemical Weapons Convention (The Republic of Armenia has signed the CWC on March 19, 1993 and ratified it on January 27, 1995), and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention of 1974 (deposited the instruments of accession with the Russian Federation and USA on June 7, 1994).

On September 10, 1996 the Republic of Armenia has signed and on December 8, 2005 ratified Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

At the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, Armenia advocated indefinite extension of the Treaty and cosponsored the Canadian resolution, which paved the way to the consensus decision of the Conference to that effect.

At the First Conference of the State Parties to th e CWC in May 1997, Armenia reiterated its commitment to the CWC objectives of nonproliferation and complete elimination of chemical weapons, despite the fact that not all states of our region had ratified the Convention by that time.

At the Second CWC conference, Armenia cosponsored the draft recommendation proposed by 16 states on ensuring the universality of the Convention.

As a country using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Armenia recognize the central role that the International Atomic Energy Agency should play in nuclear non-proliferation and we are working very closely with the mentioned organisation.

The Agreement between the Republic Armenia and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement in connection with Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapon” was signed on September 23, 1993 and entered into force on May 5, 1994 (IAEA INFCIRC. 455).

Protocol Additional to the Agreement between the Republic Armenia and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in connection with Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapon” has been signed on September 29, 1997 and in force from June 28, 2004. All of Armenia’s nuclear material at the country’s only operating nuclear facility has been placed under the Agency’s full scope safeguards.

The Republic of Armenia has ratified the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials on June 22, 1993.

Convention on Nuclear Safety entered into force for Armenia on December 20, 1998.
Armenia is not a member of the international export control regimes: Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Zangger Committee, the Australia Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement and the prime reason is that it is not major supplier of controlled or military goods, materials and technologies, and the regimes membership may not be relevant to the economic profile of the country. So the fact that Armenia does not participate, should not suggest a disinclination on behalf of the government to comply with international standards, but merely conveys an absence of membership criteria rather than of will. Although Armenia itself is not a member in the various multilateral control regimes, it strongly adheres to the goals and principles of these regimes.

The National Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Armenia adopted a new Criminal Code on 18 April 2003 and a law on “Export control of dual-use items and technologies and its transit across the territory of the Republic of Armenia” on September 24, 2003. This law intends to support the implementation of international obligations and commonly agreed measures in order to fight the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, to guarantee the implementation of international agreements and establish an effective export control mechanism, to create favorable conditions for integrating into world trade system and acquisition of modern technologies by promoting foreign trade and foreign investments.

On February 19, 2004 the Commission for Controlling the Exports of Dual Use Goods and Technologies and Regulating their Transit Traffic has been established by the Government Resolution No. 212-N. The Staff and the Regulations of the Commission have been approved. Chairman of the Commission is the head of Government Administration of Armenia. The structure of the Commission includes assistants to ministers of all corresponding ministries and governmental bodies - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defense, National Security Service, Ministry of Energy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, State Customs Committee. The Commission carries out the control over the dual-use items and technologies and regulates their transit through the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The Commission considers all applications for export and transit of dual-use items and technologies .

The Export Control list has been passed by the Government and the European Union Export Control list was assumed as a basis for that list.
The Republic of Armenia is a signatory to the Hague Code of Conduct on Ballistic Missiles (October 12, 2004).

The Republic of Armenia has signed the International Convention on Suppresion of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on September 15, 2005.

The Republic of Armenia is actively participating in Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Cooperation Initiative (NDCI) proposed by the EU. Armenian representatives participated in two working meetings of NDCI – December, 2002 in Brussels and March, 2004 in London.

One of the cornerstones of the national security strategy of the Republic of Armenia has always been fostering the cooperation with the member countries of the international non-proliferation regimes.

The Republic of Armenia has signed an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Argentine on “Cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy” (entered into force on April 22, 1999).

The Republic of Armenia has signed an Agreement with the Government of the Russian Federation on “Cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy” (entered into force on January 10, 2001).

On a bilateral level, the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia have agreed to mutual cooperation and assistance in the worldwide effort to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As part of this effort, on July 24, 2000 both countries signed an agreement titled “Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia concerning cooperation in the area of counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”.

On March 24, 2006, Armenia declared that it welcomes and fully supports the Proliferation Security Initiative and the September 4th 2003 Statement of Interdiction Principles.

On March 26, 2007, the Government of Armenia announced that it welcomes and fully supports joint US-Russia Global Initiative to Combat Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.
On 10 December, 2007 the first meeting between the USA State Department Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) and the Republic of Armenia governmental agencies concerned took place in the US Embassy in Yerevan.

On July 14, 2008 the Joint Action Plan between the Government of the United States of America and Government of the Republic of Armenia on Combating Smuggling of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials has been signed in Washington. This document aimed at the elimination of nuclear smuggling through activities in 4 major fields: prevention, detection, response and fighting against corruption. The list of 6 priority assistance projects includes 1 project on radioactive sources, 1 on border detection, 2 on nuclear forensics, and 1 each on laws and anti-corruption training.

Armenia is also engaged in US Export Control and Border Security Program, which is designed to develop the enforcement skills of the Armenian border guards and the Customs Service in their fight against the movement of weapons of mass destruction and products that have dual use. All projects, which are currently under way, reflect this commitment and the needs and priorities of Armenian Government.