Defense policy and

international security policy

It is precisely in the field of Security where both sectors are closely interwoven.

The concept of Security has a wide scope, according to United Nations definitions:

security and represent the bases of reference for Defense as they implicitly involve security or receive its influence.

Argentina's International Security Policy

At present, the international security policy is expressed in various ways,

summarized as follows:

. It is a situation in which a Nation is considered protected from military aggressions, political pressures or significant economic restrictions, leaving it free to pursue its own development and growth.

• The countries and the international community as a whole, in general, have different bases they rely on for their own security: security policies are therefore measures used to promote it.

. The concept of security comprises and combines different elements, such as military capability, economic power, social development, progress in science and technology, and political

cooperation through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

We can, therefore, conclude that, among all the elements related to a

•ertain problem, the military contributes together with the political cooperation which translates to negotiations and agreements that benefit the country's

• Cooperation ("consult") . Non-Proliferation of Nuclear,

Biological and Chemical Weapons ("agree")

. Arms Control ("inform and supervise")

These concepts are closely linked but have been broken down only to enhance Argentine commitment to peace and international security and to better identify their main expressions.

In this regard, Argentina has agreed

with Brazil on the disclosure of their respective nuclear programs, by means of the 1991 Guadalajara Agreement. The Brazilian-Argentine Agency for

Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) was created to

implement this agreement, and a

Safeguard Agreement was signed by both countries, the ABACC and the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These agreements contributed to build confidence, provide assurance to third parties and enhance regional and global stability.

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Our country also joined the

Tlatelolco Treaty in 1994 after proposing some amendments together with Chile and Brazil. Such amendments did not affect its essence, but were geared to improve its mechanisms and applications maiding them more efficient and less costly; and were approved and signed by the member countries in 1992.

Argentina has also joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons (NPT), which prohibits the development or construction of nuclear weapons.

Since 1991, our country has also supported the principles and guidelines contained in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which it finally joined in 1993. Under this Agreement -which Brazil also joined- Argentina undertakes not to develop missiles with ranges higher than 300 km and payloads exceeding 500 kg.

Our country promoted the non-proliferation of chemical and

bacteriological weapons in the region through the Declaration of Mendoza, signed in 1991 by Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Later on, Bolivia, Ecuador,

Paraguay and Uruguay adhered to this agreement.

Through this instrument, the countries undertook not to develop,

stockpile or use this kind of weapons and agreed to adhere to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,

Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destniction.

Argentina sends technicians to attend inspection courses and also participates in chemical and biological inspection tasks under the UN mandate, for example in the Special Commission created by the Security Council to monitor Iraq's elimination of mass destruction weapons and ballistic long-range missiles.

Besides, our country is a member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in The Hague, and the Ministry of Defense has

organized a regional Course for Inspectors' Accompanying Personnel.

These courses are held in the National Defense College, CITEFA (Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research

Institute), the Military Explosives Factory in Azul and the Azopardo Naval Arsenal.

With respect to the question of biological weapon non-proliferation, Argentina is a party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of

Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. It participates in all review conferences, and supports the

Chapter 6 - The Pillars of our Defense Policy

design of a verification regime; moreover, Argentina is a member of the Australian Group engaged in chemical and biological weapon transfer control activities.

Control on sensitive exports is an es-sential requirement for the success of any policy for mass-destruction weapon non-proliferation.

Based on the above, Decree No. 603/

92 created the National War Material and Sensitive Export Control

Commission, whose members are officials from the Defense, Foreign Affairs and Economy Ministries and technicians from competent organizations: the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN), National Air Space Commission (CONAE) and CITEFA (Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Institute).

Furthermore, our country complies with the UN Register of Conventional

Weapons, thus promoting greater transparency in military matters. Our country supports the creation of a similar register within the OAS, an initiative included in the action plan of the II Summit of the Americas. Argentina believes that such register should be mandatory and that its scope should be enlarged.

Our country's international cooperation has been evidenced by its involvement in various consultation mechanisms with several countries, including the joint participation of the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

In summary, the Defense Policy and Security Policy are interrelated and contribute to achieve the legitimate goals of our Nation. On the other hand, these policies, by promoting peace,

international security and stability in the region also contribute to the

accomplishment of our own interests.

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CHAPTER 7

. — a he Defense policy, stated in f\^/ general terms, implies the

>*-^ protection of Argentine vital interests and contribution, within its scope and according to the national and international legal framework, to the support and development of strategic interests.

In relation to the military instrument, this policy pursues the consolidation and enhancement of its spiritual and material capabilities, aiming at an effective deterrence strategy and at the maintenance of peace and

international stability, especially in our hemisphere.

This policy has a threefold nature:

national, regional and international.

Our country has the right to organize its Armed Forces to be capable of

exercising our legitimate defense, as expressly stated in the UN Charter.