ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96072402.AAF
DATE:07/24/96
TITLE:24-07-96  TEXT:  U.S., SOUTH AFRICA SIGN ANTI-CRIME AGREEMENT

TEXT:
(Gore, Mbeki sign document at end of BNC meetings) (540)

WASHINGTON -- The United States and South Africa signed a declaration
on mutual anti-crime prevention July 23 at the end of the current
segment of the U.S.-South Africa Binational Commission meetings.

Following is the text of one of the documents that were signed by U.S.
Vice President Al Gore and South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki:

(BEGIN TEXT)

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of
the Republic of South Africa,

Recognizing the impact of crime on democracy, stability, and human
rights;

Aware that organized criminal elements are attracted to open, free
societies with highly developed infrastructures;

Convinced that the illicit use and trafficking in drugs constitute a
problem which affects the communities of both countries;

Realizing that money laundering, corruption, and related international
criminal activities undermine democratic societies;

Believing that the international nature of most organized criminal
activity necessitates that governments coordinate their law
enforcement efforts;

Alert to the need for worldwide cooperation in combating international
terrorism;

Mindful of the South African Government's National Crime Prevention
Strategy of May 1996; and

Observing the recommendations of the March 1996 document of the South
African Department of Safety and Security, entitled "Requests for
International Assistance";

Agree on the desirability, and indeed the necessity of mutual
cooperation in combating international crime, including international
terrorism.

Such cooperation may include but need not be limited to the following:

-- assignment of representatives of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration to the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to coordinate
intelligence, training, and possible joint operations in combating
transnational drug trafficking;

-- provision for training and support for drug demand reduction and
preventive education outreach;

-- establishment of an FBI Legal Attache office in Pretoria to liaise
with host country law enforcement organizations in support of law
enforcement activities including, but not limited to, the exchange of
intelligence information and investigation of international terrorism,
financial/computer crimes, kidnappings and other transnational crimes,
as well as to facilitate the location, arrest, and extradition of
international fugitives within the FBI's jurisdiction;

-- development by South Africa of a police training program to enhance
professional capabilities in fighting organized crime, financial
crimes, and alien smuggling, which may include specialized courses
offered by U.S. law enforcement training programs such as ICITAP
(International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program);

-- inclusion of South African participants in U.S.-administered
courses for professionals assigned to the fields of Customs and
Immigration, narcotics interdiction, VIP protection, and financial
crimes;

-- promotion of exchange visits by teams of law enforcement officials
ranging from working-level police to public defenders, prosecutors,
and judges, up to officials at the ministerial level; and

-- pursuit of other exchanges of information, training programs, and
international cooperation as may be mutually desirable.

The United States and South Africa are convinced that their mutual
cooperation in fighting the scourges of organized crime, drug
trafficking, and international terrorism can result in a tangible
benefit to their mutual societies, the surrounding regions, and the
world.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:


FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA:


Washington, July 23, 1996

(END TEXT)
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