Expert mission on HCoC to South Africa

11 April 2016

On 11 April 2016, the FRS conducted, in partnership with the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, a mission in South Africa to promote the HCoC.

AGENDA

WELCOMING REMARKS 

  • Christophe LAROSE, Representing the EU Delegation to the Republic of South Africa
  • Xavier PASCO, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research, France
  • Nicolas KASPRZYK, International Consultant, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa

 

I/ THE HCoC AGAINST THE PROLIFERATION OF BALLISTIC MISSILES: UNIVERSALITY, IMPLEMENTATION & VISIBILITY 

SPEAKERS:

  • Emmanuelle MAITRE, Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research, France
  • Gloria BAMUSI, Assistant Director of Political Affairs, Head of Disarmament Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malawi
  • Michiel COMBRINK, Deputy Director, Disarmament & Non-Proliferation, DIRCO, Republic of South Africa

 

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

  • Presentation by current HCoC Chair of progress and challenges relating to universality, implementation, and visibility
  • The role of the Code and other TCBMs in regional dynamics and the regional security environment : the view of an African signatory country
  • The concrete meaning of implementing the HCoC, as perceived by a signatory state

 

II/ CURRENT TRENDS CONCERNING BALLISTIC MISSILE TECHNOLOGIES & PROLIFERATION: GENERAL & REGIONAL VIEWS 

SPEAKERS:

  • Dr. Jo-Ansie VAN WYK, University of University of South Africa (Unisa), Pretoria
  • Dr. Joelien PRETORIUS, University of the Western Cape
  • Mothepa SHADUNG, research fellow, ISS

 

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

  • Issues arising from dual-use technologies and related strategies
  • Regional analysis on the issues of proliferation and Africa
  • Comparative perspectives between the implementation and challenges of the 1540 Resolution and the HCoC Initiative

 

III/ CURRENT TRENDS CONCERNING SPACE LAUNCG TECHNOLOGIES & CAPABILITIES: DYNAMICS OF SPACE LAUNCH & FUTURE USES OF SPACE APPLICATIONS

SPEAKERS:

  • Dr. Xavier PASCO, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research, Paris
  • Dr. Spencer ONUH, Director of the Nigerian Space Agency
  • Dr. Christiaan REDELINGHUYS, DeltaV Aerospace

 

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

  • The characteristics of the development of space launch technologies
  • The evolution of the satellite industry and its impact upon the space launch sector.

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: 

  • Priscilla JOHNSON
  • Louis HANNIE, Denel
    • Presentation of the Overberg Test Range

 

CONCLUDING REMARKS

  • Nicolas KASPRZYK, International Consultant, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa
  • Xavier PASCO, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research, France
Issue Briefs

The HCoC and Strategic Risk Reduction

As a multilateral instrument, the HCoC holds a particular place in a global architecture of measures that attempts to reduce the destabilising nature of ballistic missiles. By promoting transparency about policies and launches, it aims to limit the risk of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and worst-case assessments.

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Research Papers

The HCoC: current challenges and future possibilities

The Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC), currently the only game in town on its topic, marked its 10th anniversary in 2012. It has generated membership comfortably into three figures, and its supporters have tried valiantly to help it make progress. However, even its most enthusiastic admirers would concede that has not fulfilled the hopes and expectations of its founders when they gathered for the opening ceremony in November 2002.

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Research Papers

Opening HCoC to cruise missiles: A proposal to overcome political hurdles

The issue of extending the scope of the Hague Code of Conduct to cruise missiles is regularly raised in academic and political discussions about the Code. Some non-subscribing States justify their refusal to join the instrument because of this exclusion, perceived as a major flaw. Indeed, cruise missiles have characteristics that can make them very effective in carrying weapons of mass destruction. It is therefore clearly of interest to consider extending the HCoC scope to these weapons.

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