ASEAN fails to get U.S. to sign SEANWFZ treaty<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat<\/p>\n
BATAM ISLAND, Riau (JP): ASEAN has again failed in its attempt
\nto get the United States to sign the protocol of the Southeast
\nAsian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty despite claims
\nthat Washington supports such a zone.<\/p>\n
\"There is no obvious signal,\" Indonesia's Izhar Ibrahim told
\nThe Jakarta Post yesterday when asked if there had been any
\nprogress during a meeting with his American counterpart.<\/p>\n
Izhar, who chaired yesterday's 13th dialog meeting between the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the U.S., said
\nmember states had again put the question of SEANWFZ forward.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, which comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam started a two-day
\nmeeting with its dialog partner, the U.S., yesterday covering
\nvarious political and international issues.<\/p>\n
The U.S. delegation is led by Assistant Secretary of State for
\nEast Asia and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord.<\/p>\n
In December, 10 Southeast Asia heads of state signed a treaty
\nmaking the region a nuclear free zone. They then called for
\nnuclear states to sign-on to the protocol of the treaty.<\/p>\n
Washington has continued to reject the requests and has
\ndemanded several amendments. Other nuclear states have also not
\nsigned on.<\/p>\n
Izhar, who is Director General of Political Affairs at the
\nIndonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that even though
\nthere was no formal commitment, the U.S. did express its support
\nfor the treaty.<\/p>\n
\"Once again they expressed their general support for the
\nSEANWFZ idea. However they have problems with the protocol which
\nrefers to the treaty's implementation of the EEZ (Exclusive
\nEconomic Zone,\" Izhar explained.<\/p>\n
Izhar said ASEAN could understand the U.S. objections.<\/p>\n
\"Actually from our side, we have to consider or look at the
\npossibility of how far we can accommodate at least some of the
\nconcerns of the nuclear countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lord said Washington is willing to sign the SEANWFZ protocol
\nif it does not infringe upon the United States' defense,
\nnavigation and security rights.<\/p>\n
\"Over this particular one (SEANWFZ) we still have concerns, as
\ndo all the nuclear powers, not just us. So we have been talking
\nand will continue to talk about the protocol and the treaty to
\nASEAN countries,\" Lord said.<\/p>\n
Other items discussed yesterday include the South China Sea,
\nthe Middle East, Bosnia and the U.S. defense posture in Asia.<\/p>\n
The Korean peninsula and the Korean Peninsula Energy
\nDevelopment Organization (KEDO) which is financing the
\ndevelopment of a \"safer\" nuclear reactor for North Korea were
\nalso discussed.<\/p>\n
Lord expressed his dissatisfaction toward ASEAN's material
\nsupport for KEDO. \"This is an area in which, quite frankly, we
\nare greatly disappointed,\" Lord said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the only ASEAN state which is contributing.<\/p>\n
ASEAN members on the other hand also expressed concern over a
\nrecent U.S. law which threatens sanctions against parties which
\nhave commercial dealings above US$40 million with Cuba, Iran and
\nLibya.<\/p>\n
Izhar said such a law \"may have a negative impact on (U.S.)
\nrelations with other countries.\"<\/p>\n
Such a legislation does not conform to international law and
\nthe right of sovereignty of nations, he said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. delegation took note of these concerns but maintained
\nthat the legislation was primarily aimed at its own citizens.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-fails-to-get-us-to-sign-seanwfz-treaty-1447893297",
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