PMC makes little progress on nuclear treaties
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)