Good afternoon, hon members and hon Chair. As a country that remains firmly committed to the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, South Africa does not wish to see even one other country possessing or acquiring nuclear weapons, including Iran. South Africa's position is informed by our own national experience as the only country to have voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons and related programmes. In this regard, South Africa acts on the basis of the principles and in support of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency, where we are active as a member of its board of governors.
During South Africa's membership of the United Nations Security Council in 2007 and 2008, we focused our efforts on trying to de-escalate tensions, promote dialogue, and establish confidence in Iran's nuclear programme to ensure that International Atomic Energy Agency processes were supported and Iran remained part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The UN Security Council resolution framework on Iran is aimed at negotiated solutions. The United Nations Security Council is pursuing a dual-track approach of incentives and pressure, but in both instances the stated objective is a comprehensive negotiated solution. While recognising that the United Nations Security Council could be called upon to impose coercive measures such as sanctions, South Africa called for these measures to be exercised with great caution, and only to support the resumption of political dialogue and negotiations to achieve a peaceful solution. We reminded members of the United Nations Security Council that by voting in favour of sanctions, they had a special obligation to the Iranian people. We reminded them that they had to exercise the highest degree of scrutiny and oversight with regard to the implementation of the sanctions to ensure that there were no unintended consequences and the sole focus remained the nuclear programme.
In conclusion, South Africa upholds the right of all countries, including Iran, to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, subject to appropriate safeguards. For South Africa, it is important to ensure that the international community's response to the Iranian situation does not deny any signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty the peaceful application of nuclear technology. I thank you for your attention.
Ngiyabonga Phini likaMongameli ngempendulo yakho. [Thank you, Deputy President, for your response.]
Deputy President, the only thing I would like to know is: What will be the long-term impact on South Africa's nuclear development? I ask this because as society develops there is this trend of a lot of countries looking at the nuclear option as an alternative to be used in terms of development.
Chairperson, indeed, nuclear technology is the future in terms of electrical energy generation. But, of course, the issue here is that we as a country, within the integrated policy, will look at even the generation of electrical power through nuclear technology. That is in the pipeline, and that is clean energy. Nuclear energy is clean energy. That is the future, as I have said. We have already been in possession of nuclear warheads and that is why we voluntarily destroyed them. That is technology that we will be able to revisit in future in order to meet the demand for electricity. Thank you.
Hon Deputy President, thank you very much for the answer to the question. Following on your answer, may I ask: If you believe that nuclear energy is clean energy and it's the energy of the future, what is your view then of the disposal of nuclear waste - which is a problem millennium after millennium - which could create a huge dirty environment for our children and grandchildren to deal with?
Secondly, the South African government adopted caution, or asked the United Nations Security Council to adopt caution, with regard to sanctions. Is the South African government in favour, or not, of the sanctions that have been imposed? Thank you, hon Chair.
The second question seems to be a new question, not a follow-up question.
Hon members, the disposal of nuclear waste is a challenge that confronts all of humanity. That is why this technology is to be used in terms of the framework determined by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is a body that looks at the non-proliferation as well as the management of nuclear waste.
The idea is to create a safe and healthy environment, rather than to destroy the earth, as it were. That is the framework that we, as a country, will have to be guided by so that we don't dispose of nuclear waste in a reckless manner, a manner which promotes hazards to the health of humanity. That is why we will have to do this in a more responsible manner.
Solutions are being sought. Many countries that are already utilising nuclear energy are doing lots of research on how to dispose of nuclear waste. We know that some who are irresponsible try to dump it in waters far away from their own continents. That is why this is a matter that must be co-ordinated globally by an agency such as the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The latter part of the question is a variation of the question that I answered in the first instance, the first question posed by the hon member. So, I don't know whether I should simply repeat that answer or not. Thank you.
Meetings of Moral Regeneration Movement, MRM, and details relating thereto 20. Mr R A Lees (DA) asked the Deputy President:
Whether the Moral Regeneration Movement, MRM, has held any meetings during the period 1 January 2009 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, why not; if so, (a) with whom were the meetings held, (b) what subjects were covered in the meetings, (c) what (i) decisions and (ii) recommendations were made at such meetings and (d) who attended the meetings?