Alatas opens UN backed disarmament conference<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas opened a
\nconference on disarmament yesterday by calling on regional
\nnuclear powers to respect Southeast Asia's desire to remain free
\nof nuclear weapons and to support a landmark treaty signed last
\nyear enforcing this.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that the aim of the United Nations-sponsored
\nmeeting was to \"bring about the limitation and reduction of
\narmaments and to enhance security in our region.\"<\/p>\n
About 50 participants representing 25 countries will discuss
\nnuclear disarmament, nuclear weapons-free zones and regional
\nconfidence-building measures at the three day conference.<\/p>\n
The UN Under Secretary-General for Disarmament, Jayantha
\nDhanapala, said the conference came at an opportune time \"to
\nreview the current situation in the disarmament field and
\nidentify priority areas to be addressed by the international
\ncommunity.\"<\/p>\n
Delegates included representatives from the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations -- Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
\nMyanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- as
\nwell as China, Japan, the United States and Russia. North and
\nSouth Korean rivals were also represented.<\/p>\n
Alatas said a treaty in force since last march declaring
\nSoutheast Asia a nuclear weapon free zone, \"acknowledges the
\nright of other states to freedom of the high seas and innocent
\npassage and archipelagic passage.\"<\/p>\n
\"The protocol attached to the treaty is open for signature by
\nthe nuclear-weapon states,\" he said, adding \"their respect and
\nsupport for the protocol is indispensable to the effectiveness of
\nthe zone.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas was alluding to complex discussions going on for nearly
\na year involving the United States. Washington has been holding
\ntalks with Indonesia on the issue of the transit of U.S. nuclear
\nwarships through its waters when crossing from the Pacific Ocean
\nto the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Director General for Political Affairs Nugroho
\nWisnumurti was quoted by Antara as saying that Asia Pacific
\ncountries are potential victims of nuclear weapons. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/alatas-opens-un-backed-disarmament-conference-1447893297",
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