ASEAN fails to get U.S. to sign SEANWFZ treaty

ASEAN fails to get U.S. to sign SEANWFZ treaty

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

BATAM ISLAND, Riau (JP): ASEAN has again failed in its attempt
to get the United States to sign the protocol of the Southeast
Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty despite claims
that Washington supports such a zone.

"There is no obvious signal," Indonesia's Izhar Ibrahim told
The Jakarta Post yesterday when asked if there had been any
progress during a meeting with his American counterpart.

Izhar, who chaired yesterday's 13th dialog meeting between the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the U.S., said
member states had again put the question of SEANWFZ forward.

ASEAN, which comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam started a two-day
meeting with its dialog partner, the U.S., yesterday covering
various political and international issues.

The U.S. delegation is led by Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asia and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord.

In December, 10 Southeast Asia heads of state signed a treaty
making the region a nuclear free zone. They then called for
nuclear states to sign-on to the protocol of the treaty.

Washington has continued to reject the requests and has
demanded several amendments. Other nuclear states have also not
signed on.

Izhar, who is Director General of Political Affairs at the
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that even though
there was no formal commitment, the U.S. did express its support
for the treaty.

"Once again they expressed their general support for the
SEANWFZ idea. However they have problems with the protocol which
refers to the treaty's implementation of the EEZ (Exclusive
Economic Zone," Izhar explained.

Izhar said ASEAN could understand the U.S. objections.

"Actually from our side, we have to consider or look at the
possibility of how far we can accommodate at least some of the
concerns of the nuclear countries," he said.

Lord said Washington is willing to sign the SEANWFZ protocol
if it does not infringe upon the United States' defense,
navigation and security rights.

"Over this particular one (SEANWFZ) we still have concerns, as
do all the nuclear powers, not just us. So we have been talking
and will continue to talk about the protocol and the treaty to
ASEAN countries," Lord said.

Other items discussed yesterday include the South China Sea,
the Middle East, Bosnia and the U.S. defense posture in Asia.

The Korean peninsula and the Korean Peninsula Energy
Development Organization (KEDO) which is financing the
development of a "safer" nuclear reactor for North Korea were
also discussed.

Lord expressed his dissatisfaction toward ASEAN's material
support for KEDO. "This is an area in which, quite frankly, we
are greatly disappointed," Lord said.

Indonesia is the only ASEAN state which is contributing.

ASEAN members on the other hand also expressed concern over a
recent U.S. law which threatens sanctions against parties which
have commercial dealings above US$40 million with Cuba, Iran and
Libya.

Izhar said such a law "may have a negative impact on (U.S.)
relations with other countries."

Such a legislation does not conform to international law and
the right of sovereignty of nations, he said.

The U.S. delegation took note of these concerns but maintained
that the legislation was primarily aimed at its own citizens.