Asean adopts SEANFWZ plan of action

MANILA: Asean has adopted the action plan for the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANFWZ) at a meeting of the SEANFWZ Commission here.

"In our efforts to secure the region from the threats of nuclear weapons, this road map sets the direction, objectives and collective actions that Asean needs to undertake to strengthen the implementation of the treaty in future," said the Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Romulo yesterday.

Under the action plan, the parties will pursue compliance with the undertakings of the SEANFWZ treaty, including the completion of their accession to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) safety agreements and the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident.

They will also consider accession to other related international instruments such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the IAEA Additional Protocol.

Asean is also seeking the accession of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- US, China, Russia, France and Britain -- to the treaty.

Among others, SEANFWZ obligates Asean countries not to develop, manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or have control over nuclear weapons, station nuclear weapons or tests or use nuclear weapons anywhere inside or outside the treaty zone.

The meeting today was attended by the foreign ministers of the 10 Asean members, 10 years after the ratification of the treaty by the grouping, to review the operation and implementation of the treaty.