ASEAN moves to implement SEANWFZ treaty

ASEAN moves to implement SEANWFZ treaty

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

SINGAPORE (JP): Nearly four years after signing a nuclear-free
zone treaty, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
will take the first step in its implementation on Saturday by
convening an inaugural commission meeting to ensure compliance.

"This inaugural meeting is significant as it marks the first
concrete step in the implementation of the SEANWFZ treaty," the
Singapore foreign ministry spokesperson said here Wednesday.

In attendance will be all 10 ASEAN foreign ministers, who are
in the island state to participate in their regularly scheduled
annual gathering.

Singapore, as the current ASEAN chairman, is expected to be
elected to head the commission.

Delegates here said the commission would establish an internal
committee of senior officials to prepare draft rules of
procedure.

The committee also be asked to explore how it would liase with
the International Atomic Energy Agency and other agencies.

The Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
(SEANWFZ) was signed in Bangkok in 1995. However, it only came
into effect in March 1997 when the seventh ASEAN member submitted
its ratification.

The treaty's main objective is to make the region free of
nuclear weapons. ASEAN countries pledged not to develop,
manufacture, acquire, transport or test nuclear weapons.

The treaty also includes a protocol which ASEAN hopes nuclear
weapons states, such as China, Russia and the United States, will
eventually accede.

The convening of the commission is of great importance because
it has the task of ensuring that member states comply and
implement the treaty.

Formed in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.

Although barring the use of nuclear weapons and the dumping of
nuclear waste, the treaty does not preclude use of nuclear energy
for economic development.

However, ASEAN members are prohibited from disposing nuclear
waste in the region, or permitting outside countries from dumping
radioactive material in Southeast Asia.

SOM

ASEAN senior officials on Wednesday briskly wrapped up their
preparatory talks for Friday's ministerial meeting.

The Indonesian foreign ministry's Director General for
Political Affairs Nugroho Wisnumurti said there were no
outstanding disagreements in the meeting and that the report to
the ministers and the draft Joint Communique also were completed.

"It generally includes various issues affecting the region.
There were no problems which became controversies," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Going into Friday's annual ministerial talks, ASEAN delegates
were upbeat about the fate of the grouping, boasting that it
survived the darkest clouds of the financial crisis.

Singapore's foreign minister S. Jayakumar noted the turbulent
past year.

"I am happy to note that ASEAN has emerged from the financial
and economic crisis in better shape than last year," he said
Wednesday in closing remarks to the senior officials.

"Despite its economic travails, ASEAN's activities in all
fields continue unabated and its members have fully participated
in these activities."

Thailand's Director General of ASEAN Anucha Osathanond
asserted the need to continue showing a strong resolve to combat
the crisis.

"We should show that to the world that our enlarged
membership, rather than losing a sense of purpose, indicates
instead a continued and enlarged determination to achieve greater
goals," he said.

Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas is due to arrive here
at noon on Thursday. He will later hold talks with his Singapore
counterpart, before attending an informal working dinner with the
other nine ASEAN foreign ministers.