PMC makes little progress on nuclear treaties

JAKARTA (JP): While delegates during their meetings here repeatedly expressed commitment to disarmament, the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) that ended yesterday brought ASEAN no closer to either a nuclear test ban treaty or a nuclear free zone in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said that "under proper circumstances" Washington would be willing to accede to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty.

However as it stands the treaty "has some flaws from our standpoint".

Christopher left Jakarta yesterday after attending an annual series of talks, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the Post Ministerial Conference, between members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the their dialog partners of which nuclear power China, Russia and the U.S. are part.

ASEAN during the meetings urged nuclear weapon states to accede to SEANWFZ and called for a speedy conclusion of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas has said that a review of the treaty's protocol is being conducted to address concerns from nuclear states.

SEANWFZ was signed by all 10 leaders of Southeast Asia during the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok last year.

Christopher did not rule out the possibility of Washington's future support for SEANWFZ.

"We joined other nuclear free zones, and we certainly don't rule out joining this one," he said.

CTBT

The gathering of ASEAN dialog partners also gave the opportunity for countries to discuss the CTBT. Current negotiations have hit a snag with countries like India demanding that the CTBT be related to a firm overall commitment for nuclear disarmament.

U.S. Under Secretary Joan Spero said that the issue was discussed during bilateral talks between Christopher and Indian foreign minister I.K. Gujral yesterday morning.

She revealed that while the meeting was warm and cordial, no compromise had been reached between the two sides.

"We did not come to any final understanding on that issue, nor did we expect to come to an understanding (at the meeting)," she said.

She said Washington would continue to work on finding a solution to the two-side's positions.

"We do have different points of view on that issue. What we would like to do is to work with the government of India to see if it is possible to bridge those differences," she said.

Gujral described the impasse between Washington and Delhi as one of perception.

"For the CTBT we have different perceptions. India's position has been elaborated both in the forum here and elsewhere," she said, adding that India is not in a position to accept the CTBT draft as it presently stands. (pwn/rid/mds)