Statement by H.E. Mr. Rachmat Budiman, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna at the Second Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Cluster 2 Specific Issues: Regional issues, including with respect to the Middle East
and implementation of the 1995 Middle East Resolution
Mr. Chairman,
The 2010 NPT Review Conference encouraged the establishment of further nuclear weapons free zones (NWFZs). It also encouraged “all concerned States to ratify the nuclear weapon free zone treaties and their relevant protocols, and to constructively consult and cooperate to bring about the entry into force of the relevant legally binding protocols of all such nuclear weapon free zones treaties which include negative security assurances. This is clearly stated in Action 9 of the 2010 NPT Action Plan.
We believe that the establishment of nuclear weapons free zones (NWFZ) will enhance global and regional peace, strengthen non-proliferation regime and contribute towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament. It is also against this backdrop that nuclear weapon free zones were created by the treaties of Tlateloco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba and Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone as well as Mongolia’s nuclear weapon free status. Achieving a world without nuclear weapons remains an end goal.
As far as the Treaty on Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) is concerned, we take note of the progress made in concluding negotiations between ASEAN and the five nuclear weapon states on the Protocol of the Treaty on SEANWFZ. We look forward to the signing of the Protocol and its related documents as early as possible.
Mr. Chairman,
Turning to the Middle East region, while my delegation appreciates and commends the efforts by the facilitator Ambassador Jaako Laajava to implement his mandate and in undertaking all necessary preparation for the convening of the Middle East Conference, it is a profound disappointment to my delegation that the Middle East Conference cannot be convened last December 2012. This is contrary to the letter and spirit of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East and contradicts and violates the collective agreement of the States Parties contained in the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
In this regard, Indonesia urges the conveners of the Middle East Conference to convene the Conference without any further delay. All efforts must be exerted towards making the postponed 2012 Middle East Conference into a reality. We believe that it could take place before the end of 2013. This is in order to avoid any negative repercussions on the relevance and credibility of the NPT, its 2015 Review process and the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime as a whole.
Thank you.
Geneva, 30 April 2013
