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Southern Africa

South Africa

South African Nuclear History

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North America

United States

Nuclear Proliferation

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Middle East

Israel

Soviet soldier taking a photograph of another soldier in Red Square, Moscow, 1959

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

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Western Europe

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The Taj Mahal Shrine in Agra, India.

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Vorster, B. J. (Balthazar Johannes)

1915- 1983

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Mallaby, C. L. G.

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Brazilian Nuclear History

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Carter, Jimmy

1924-

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United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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De Klerk, F. W. (Frederik Willem)

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Sole, Donald Bell

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Pakistani Nuclear History

Origins of Brazil-Argentina Nuclear Cooperation

George H.W. Bush and Lech Walesa

CIA Reports on the Collapse of Communism in Europe

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November 17, 1989	Memorandum, Richard Carter, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Main Points Arising from Luncheon on 14 November 1989' with Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) A memorandum outlining AEC and Armscor arguments regarding nuclear weapons development and NPT accession. Includes discussion of implications should the African National Congress gain power in government, decontamination of enrichment sites and degradation of previously enriched materials.
September 1, 1988	Report, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'A Balanced Approach to the NPT: Armscor/AEC Concerns Viewed from a DFA Standpoint' Analysis of South Africa's stance on the NPT, particularly in light of ARMSCOR and AEC concerns. Calls for a “strategy of uncertainty” to obfuscate South Africa’s perceived nuclear weapons capability.
March 20, 1981	Report, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South African-United States' Nuclear Relations' Background on US-South African nuclear relations and uranium cooperation from the end of the Second World War to the early 1980s. Also addressed is the Vela incident of September 1979 and the international community’s backlash against the South African government.
March 1981	South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'Directive for Discussions of Nuclear Matters with United States Authorities' A memorandum in advance of a meeting between U.S. and South African policymakers which outlines South Africa’s intention to adhere to the principles and spirit of the NPT, and concerns about the supply of fuel for the Koeberg and SAFARI-1 reactors
August 31, 1977	Cable from South African Embassy in the US to the South African Secretary for Foreign Affairs on South Africa and the Bomb Telegram from the South African embassy in Washington to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Pretoria in response to a Washington Post article which alleged that South African had developed an untested nuclear weapon and became "the seventh nuclear power even though it will not be recognized as such." The conclusion drawn is that the article will lead to a watershed moment in South Africa’s international relations.
August 26, 1977	Cable, South African Department of Foreign Affairs, 'South Africa: Nuclear Bomb Charges' South African department of Foreign Affairs cable to its embassies addressing the Soviet charge that South Africa is on the precipice of developing a nuclear bomb. The message states that South Africa has no intentions of developing a weapon, that the Kalahari facility is not being used to test explosives, and that “there will not be any nuclear explosive testing of any kind in South Africa.” Attached is a copy of the Prime Ministers’ 24 August 1977 speech in Cape Town.
August 19, 1977	Letter, US Secretary of State Vance to South African Foreign Minister Botha US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance explains the evidence which lead the US to suspect that South Africa was developing nuclear weapons and developing a testing site in the Kalahari Desert.
August 18, 1977	South African Ambassador to France, 'Unofficial Translation of French Aide-Memoire' Statement from the French embassy in South Africa reaffirming their position that South Africa not pursue a nuclear weapon. Specifically, France sought a clear statement from the South African government that they not "endow [themselves] with means of proceeding with nuclear explosions” or risk continued French-South African cooperation in several areas.
August 18, 1977	Letter, US Ambassador Bowlder to South African Foreign Minister Botha Message from U.S. Ambassador Bowdler to the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Botha in which President Carter’s warning that the detonation of a South African nuclear device would have “most serious consequences” for U.S.-South African relations was conveyed.
June 2, 1976	Reply, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, 'Sale of Two Nuclear Plants to South Africa' French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Sauvagnargues, responds to an inquiry from the National Assembly regarding France's sale of two pressurized-water reactors to South Africa.