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Statement by
H.E. Dr R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Republic of Indonesia
At the Seventh Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (Article XIV), New York, 23 September 2011
Mr. President,
I would like to congratulate you on your election.
This conference offers a unique opportunity to review where we are on the entry into force on this treaty.
As an Annex 2 country, Indonesia is mindful of its responsibility to ratify the treaty.
On this, I wish to be absolutely clear: from the very beginning Indonesia has never wavered in its support for the CTBT.
Indonesia as one of the initiators and staunch supporters of this Treaty as an ultimate disarmament component of the grand bargain for the indefinite extension of the Non-proliferation Treaty in 1995.
Thus, Indonesia has long been an advocate to the very objective of the Treaty.
A strict ban on all explosive nuclear tests.
In the past, Indonesia withheld its ratification, pending ratification by all the nuclear-weapon states and other states claiming possession of nuclear weapons.
This reflects our view that it is they, above all, who must first and foremost commit to the CTBT.
That position of principle, has served its purpose.
Yet, the time for waiting is over, and it is time to act.
Last year, we started taking action.
The Government has started the ratification process.
In October 2010, the President of Indonesia submitted before the House of Representatives a draft law ratifying the CTBT.
The Government and the House of Representatives jointly deliberated on the bill in December 2010.
To expedite the ratification process, the Government has invited Members of Parliament to participate in activities related to the advancement of the CTBT ratification.
In the democratic setting of Indonesia, the Government fully respects the prerogatives of Parliament and understands that Parliament needs time to listen and receive further inputs from civil society and the larger Indonesian public.
In line with our constitutional process, the Government and the Parliament of the Republic of Indonesia are working together for early ratification of the Treaty.
Mr. President,
It is our expectation the process of ratification in Indonesia will encourage other countries, particularly those in Annex II, to also start their own ratification processes.
Nuclear disarmament is clearly one of the most urgent international challenges.
The Treaty significantly deters the development of nuclear weapons.
It contributes to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
It also prevents further damage to the environment from the intense heat and radiation brought about by nuclear-weapon test explosions.
This will also impart momentum toward the realization of our vision of a nuclear weapons-free world.
Mr. President,
The development in our region on the disarmament issue is promising.
We are about to realize the accession of the Nuclear Weapon States to the protocol of the 1995 South East Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).
On the basis of ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ decision in Bali, July 2011, after a 10-year impasse, direct consultations between ASEAN States and Nuclear-Weapon States (NWSs) were resumed in Geneva early last month.
To maintain fresh momentum, a second round of direct consultations will be held here in New York in October 2011.
We look forward to the positive outcome of these consultations.
We will resolve outstanding issues on a number of provisions of the SEANWFZ Protocol.
This is the interest of all ASEAN and Nuclear-Weapon States that these direct consultations will lead to outcomes that accommodate the legitimate concerns of all parties.
The NWSs will then be able to accede to the Protocol.
Mr. President,
We commend the CTBTO for its valuable role in assisting member States to work towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Its verification and mitigation system are particularly of tremendous value.
Indonesia looks forward to further strengthening our long standing close cooperation with the CTBTO.
Finally, let me assure you that we are all working for the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
This will testify our full commitment towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
I thank you, Mr. President.