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Cocom Proscribed Destinations

Volume 178: debated on Monday 29 October 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his COCOM colleagues the extension of proscribed destinations and items to include Iraq and Libya.

The COCOM controls were designed to counter the strategic security threat from communist countries. Their purpose is to control the export of goods and technology that would otherwise enhance the threat that still exists. The list of proscribed destinations agreed amongst COCOM partners is based on that strategic threat. The controls reflect the indigenous capabilities of those countries.Exports are controlled to other destinations for other reasons. Iraq and Libya are prohibited destinations listed in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989, as amended, for the export of certain goods and technology.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether acceptance as a full member of the Council of Europe qualifies a state for removal from the COCOM list of proscribed destinations; and if he will make a statement.

The list of destinations proscribed by COCOM comprise those countries that pose a threat to western strategic security interests, or countries whose military and intelligence links with the former are inimical to those interests.COCOM members are considering a special procedure to facilitate the licensing of certain exports to Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. This will be dependent on their adopting adequate export control systems together with a commitment to ensure that imported strategic goods and technologies are devoted exclusively to civilian purposes.