A conference on maintaining a nuclear-free Southeast Asia took place onFebruary 12 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods to strengthencooperation between ASEAN and international nuclear-relatedorganisations to preserve a region without nuclear weapons werediscussed.
The event drew the participation ofrepresentatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), officialsof five countries with nuclear capabilities, including the US, Russia, France, China and the UK, and representatives from othercountries in various regions.
In ASEAN GeneralSecretary Le Luong Minh’s speech to the conference, he voiced ASEANmember states’ unwavering commitment to realise a nuclear free region,as well as the need to reinvigorate links and synergy between theregion’s efforts and the global non-proliferation regime.
He stressed the importance of the effective participation of regionalnations in a wide spectrum of international instruments and frameworkson nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.
He highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation among nations aroundthe globe, especially among ASEAN member countries, the Southeast AsianNuclear -Weapon- Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), the IAEA and the CTBTO.He said the global nuclear landscape is getting more complicated andless predictable, and the concerns are not only nuclear warfare but alsonuclear terrorism and nuclear safety.
“Nuclear technology hasbecome more accessible and the need to use nuclear technology fordevelopment purposes all the more pressing. The current nuclear regimeis multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and multi-layered, encompassingnumerous global and regional frameworks for non-proliferation,disarmament, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and nuclearsecurity,” he said.
He pointed out that by signingthe SEANWFZ Treaty in December 1995, the ASEAN member states committedto nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in the region. Thiscommitment was further reaffirmed with the ASEAN Charter, which has asone of its goals, the preservation of Southeast Asia as a zone free ofnuclear weapons and free of all other weapons of mass destruction.
Therefore, as States Parties to the non-proliferation of nuclearweapons (NPT) and the SEANWFZ Treaty, ASEAN member states pursue nuclearnon-proliferation in the world and in Southeast Asia in particular,he said.
“The SEANWFZ Treaty is the most importantregional treaty on non-proliferation in Southeast Asia . It is astrategic instrument for regional peace and security, and a key part ofglobal disarmament and non-proliferation. The IAEA safeguards arefeatured prominently in various provisions of the Treaty.
“ASEAN is currently working on the revised Plan of Action (PoA) forthe 2013-2017 period with a stronger emphasis on action-orientedmeasures. It is predicted the revised PoA will continue to encourage allStates Parties to conclude with IAEA’s additional protocols,” hesaid.
Minh also maintained that under the SEANWFZframework, ASEAN and the IAEA should strengthen cooperation and mutualassistance in related issues such as nuclear safety for peaceful nuclearenergy programmes, nuclear waste management, and remedial measures.
Speaking at the conference, Foreign Minister of Indonesia MartyNatalegawa said the ASEAN member countries should realise theircommitment for nuclear non- proliferation through specific actions inorder to establish nuclear free zones not only in Southeast Asia butin the world.
During the conference, representativesfrom 27 countries, including Vietnam, exchanged their opinions onthe political impacts of the popularisation of the CTBT and thesignificance of the safeguard measures, as well as IAEA’s additionalprotocols to support the goals of the ASEAN Charter and SEANFWZ.
Participants at the event also discussed issues related to the furtherdevelopment of the close coordination among the IAEA, the CTBTO andASEAN as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and member countries. They alsofocused on what ASEAN members should do to strengthen nuclear safety andensure peace and security in the region.-VNA
The event drew the participation ofrepresentatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), officialsof five countries with nuclear capabilities, including the US, Russia, France, China and the UK, and representatives from othercountries in various regions.
In ASEAN GeneralSecretary Le Luong Minh’s speech to the conference, he voiced ASEANmember states’ unwavering commitment to realise a nuclear free region,as well as the need to reinvigorate links and synergy between theregion’s efforts and the global non-proliferation regime.
He stressed the importance of the effective participation of regionalnations in a wide spectrum of international instruments and frameworkson nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.
He highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation among nations aroundthe globe, especially among ASEAN member countries, the Southeast AsianNuclear -Weapon- Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ), the IAEA and the CTBTO.He said the global nuclear landscape is getting more complicated andless predictable, and the concerns are not only nuclear warfare but alsonuclear terrorism and nuclear safety.
“Nuclear technology hasbecome more accessible and the need to use nuclear technology fordevelopment purposes all the more pressing. The current nuclear regimeis multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and multi-layered, encompassingnumerous global and regional frameworks for non-proliferation,disarmament, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear safety and nuclearsecurity,” he said.
He pointed out that by signingthe SEANWFZ Treaty in December 1995, the ASEAN member states committedto nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in the region. Thiscommitment was further reaffirmed with the ASEAN Charter, which has asone of its goals, the preservation of Southeast Asia as a zone free ofnuclear weapons and free of all other weapons of mass destruction.
Therefore, as States Parties to the non-proliferation of nuclearweapons (NPT) and the SEANWFZ Treaty, ASEAN member states pursue nuclearnon-proliferation in the world and in Southeast Asia in particular,he said.
“The SEANWFZ Treaty is the most importantregional treaty on non-proliferation in Southeast Asia . It is astrategic instrument for regional peace and security, and a key part ofglobal disarmament and non-proliferation. The IAEA safeguards arefeatured prominently in various provisions of the Treaty.
“ASEAN is currently working on the revised Plan of Action (PoA) forthe 2013-2017 period with a stronger emphasis on action-orientedmeasures. It is predicted the revised PoA will continue to encourage allStates Parties to conclude with IAEA’s additional protocols,” hesaid.
Minh also maintained that under the SEANWFZframework, ASEAN and the IAEA should strengthen cooperation and mutualassistance in related issues such as nuclear safety for peaceful nuclearenergy programmes, nuclear waste management, and remedial measures.
Speaking at the conference, Foreign Minister of Indonesia MartyNatalegawa said the ASEAN member countries should realise theircommitment for nuclear non- proliferation through specific actions inorder to establish nuclear free zones not only in Southeast Asia butin the world.
During the conference, representativesfrom 27 countries, including Vietnam, exchanged their opinions onthe political impacts of the popularisation of the CTBT and thesignificance of the safeguard measures, as well as IAEA’s additionalprotocols to support the goals of the ASEAN Charter and SEANFWZ.
Participants at the event also discussed issues related to the furtherdevelopment of the close coordination among the IAEA, the CTBTO andASEAN as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and member countries. They alsofocused on what ASEAN members should do to strengthen nuclear safety andensure peace and security in the region.-VNA
