South Africa Opens Talks on Joining Nuclear Accord

South African Foreign Minister Roelof F. (Pik) Botha held talks Friday with U.S., Soviet and British diplomats on Pretoria’s joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a South African diplomat said.

The talks took place at the U.S. mission in Vienna, said a secretary at the mission who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The South African diplomat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said a series of bilateral meetings are planned along with the talks.

The South African Broadcasting Corp. reported Thursday that Botha and South African Energy Minister Danie Steyn would convey their government’s willingness to open its nuclear facilities to international inspection.

In the past, South Africa has refused to sign the 1969 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to submit all its nuclear facilities to inspection by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. South Africa is widely believed to have the technical capability to produce an atomic bomb, but there is debate about whether it actually has produced any.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said it is not involved in the discussions.