In cooperation with Organization on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Indonesia has organized a Regional Forum of the Signatories of the Convention on Chemical Weapons in Asia Pacific to discuss issues related Assistance and Protection for Opposition to Chemical Weapons, a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry said here on Wednesday.
The three-day meeting is now underway to end on Thursday in Nusa Dua, Bali. Indonesia is represented by the National Authority in Chemical Weapons and the International Security and Disarmament of Weapon Directorate General of the Foreign Ministry and the Industry Ministry
Muhammad Khayam representing the National Chemical Weapon Authority attached important on international cooperation in anticipating the danger of chemical weapons.
Khayam said the developments of the global situation that showed growing threat of mass destruction weapons including chemical weapons proved the importance of international cooperation in preventing the use of chemical weapons.
"Considering the importance of the fulfillment of the obligation of the Chemical Weapon Convention as part of global prohibition and elimination of all chemical weapons, the Convention should be universalized," he said.
In order to meet its commitment, Indonesia already has a law No. 9 of 2008 on the use of chemical materials and prohibition of the use of chemical weapons.
In addition, the government of Indonesia has already formed a special unit at the national military (TNI) to handle the threats of nuclear , biological and chemical weapons. The government has also formed the National Authority on Chemical Weapons through Presidential Regulation No. 19 of 2017.
The meeting on chemical weapons in Bali is attended by 30 delegates from 16 countries in the Asia Pacific including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Fiji, Malaysia, the Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The meeting is to promote the capacity of the signatories of the Chemical Weapon Convention in emergency reaction in facing the possibility of chemical weapons attacks and leaks of dangerous chemicals.
As outlined in the Chapter 10 of the Convention on Chemical Weapons, the signatories are given room for cooperation in protecting themselves and in increasing their readiness against chemical weapon attacks.
The Chemical Weapon Convention is an international convention on prohibition, development , production, piling up and the use of chemical weapons as well as the destruction of the weapons.
Until now , 192 countries have ratified the convention. Indonesia ratified the Convention on Chemical Weapons through its Law No. 6 of 1998 and officially has become a member of the Convention since 12 December 1998.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
