Pages 36-39 from FCO 177-103

This document is a summary of a meeting of the NSG Nuclear-Sensitive Dual-Use Working Group held in Annapolis in October 1991. The meeting aimed to make progress towards an agreement on guidelines for a dual-use regime. Some key points from the meeting are as follows:

1. The meeting was attended by representatives from various countries and chaired by Carl Thomas from the US. Stuart Etherington led the UK delegation, and other participants included Richard Forte from the UK and Glenn Hawkins from the US.

2. The chairman intended to discuss the guidelines for a dual-use regime and review the list of items to be controlled. However, the meeting did not progress as planned. A technical sub-group was formed to expedite discussions on the list while the remaining participants reviewed the latest version of the draft guidelines.

3. The list of items to be controlled was a topic of discussion. Some items had broad agreement from a previous meeting, while other items were identified as potentially non-dual-use and could be considered for addition to the trigger list.

4. The UK proposed that the item concerning computers on the dual-use list should be discussed separately in a forum dedicated to certain types of computers. This proposal was supported by other delegations.

5. The French circulated a slightly revised version of the list, emphasizing the need to determine what items would be controlled before deciding on the controls.

6. The meeting discussed the substance of a separate document and the inclusion of denial mechanisms. The German delegation agreed with the need for denial mechanisms.

7. There was a need for consultation mechanisms and agreement on terms like "dual-use" and "e.d.p." The group discussed the possibility of a standing list and guidelines as part of INFCIRC/254.

8. In a separate discussion among EC delegates, the focus was on consultation mechanisms. The group generally accepted the idea of a separate document and discussed the substance of the text.

The summary concludes by mentioning further meetings and the need for progress in implementing the dual-use regime.