House ratifies SE Asia nuclear weapon treaty<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia ratified yesterday the Southeast Asia
\nNuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, thus becoming the decisive
\nseventh country needed for the treaty's implementation.<\/p>\n
The final procedures went smoothly as all four factions of the
\nHouse of Representatives endorsed the agreement.<\/p>\n
The House, pushed by the government, had raced to pass the
\ntreaty to ensure Indonesia was one of the first seven countries
\nto ratify it. Marathon sessions have been held since mid-January
\nto deliberate the proposed legislation.<\/p>\n
The leaders of the 10 southeast Asia nations signed the
\nnuclear weapons free zone treaty in December 1995. In doing so
\nthey agreed not to use, produce or stockpile these weapons of
\nmass destruction.<\/p>\n
Prior to yesterday only Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia,
\nMyanmar and Vietnam had ratified the treaty.<\/p>\n
Seven countries are needed to ratify the treaty before it can
\ncome into effect.<\/p>\n
The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as signatories, are
\nexpected to ratify it soon.<\/p>\n
Attending yesterday's plenary session, Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas appeared satisfied at the final outcome and
\ncalled it a "proud" result.<\/p>\n
"We believe that our decade-long struggle to ratify the bill
\nshows Indonesia's willingness to create a secure southeast Asian
\nregion," Alatas said, underlining such an environment as
\nessential to the nation's development.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia's ratification would hopefully spur the
\nothers signatories into doing the same.<\/p>\n
Alatas added that it was now up to the five nuclear-weapons
\ncountries -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States
\n-- to sign the treaty's protocol.<\/p>\n
Washington has strongly resisted signing the protocol as it
\ncurrently stands, because of objections to several paragraphs in
\nthe text.<\/p>\n
Alatas said that negotiations were underway with the nuclear
\ncountries to clarify these objections.<\/p>\n
Golkar faction member Didiet Haryadi Priyohutomo said
\nyesterday the treaty would now be sent to Thailand, as the
\ndeposit country, so it could immediately take effect as a
\nregional treaty banning nuclear weapons in southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Democratic Party member Marcel Beding called for
\nconcrete measures in the treaty's implementation. He underlined
\nthe importance of ongoing consultations with the nuclear powers.<\/p>\n
Marcel, along with Zumarnis Zein of the Armed Forces faction,
\nstressed the importance of disseminating the treaty so it would
\nnot become a mere "museum artifact".<\/p>\n
Alatas reported news of the ratification immediately to
\nPresident Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Alatas said he had explained to the President the decisive
\nrole played by Indonesia in being the seventh country to ratify
\nthe treaty.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Soeharto,
\nAlatas also said that he had briefed the President on his
\ndeparture today to Australia to sign a maritime boundary treaty.<\/p>\n
"This agreement is of historical significance because it
\nsignifies the end of a long process to determine the maritime
\nboundaries between the two countries which have gone on for the
\nlast 25 years."<\/p>\n
Alatas and his Australian counterpart, Alexander Downer, will
\nsign the maritime agreement in Perth tomorrow.<\/p>\n
"It will have a positive impact in fostering closer ties in
\nall fields of cooperation," Alatas added. (01\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-ratifies-se-asia-nuclear-weapon-treaty-1447893297",
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