"We are interested in building the reference laboratory. If we can do this, we can play a greater role in creating peace in the ASEAN region," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said at the National Authorities of Chemical Weapons` workshop here on Monday.
Hartarto, who is also the chairman of the National Authorities, stated that Singapore is the only ASEAN member country which has possessed a reference laboratory for the needs of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
"As a country with leading chemical industries in the ASEAN region, Indonesia, of course, has an opportunity to build a similar laboratory," he noted.
The Industry Ministry would push this proposal to be discussed at an international level by considering Indonesia`s current position as the OPCW`s executive board.
Therefore, if Indonesia`s proposal is accepted, the reference laboratory can be used for developing the country`s chemical industries for peaceful purposes, he added.
The proposal, however, needs to be comprehensively discussed with Indonesia`s ASEAN partners, he remarked, adding that the setting up of this reference laboratory would also be part of Indonesia`s endeavors to develop its Industry 4.0.
In developing its Industry 4.0, Indonesia has decided to have an innovation center for food and beverages, for which a laboratory is needed, Hartarto explained.
Meanwhile, Industry Ministry`s Director General for Chemicals, Textile and Miscellaneous Industry Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono stated that he would soon take necessary steps to respond to Indonesia`s initiative to propose the building of the reference laboratory in the ASEAN region.
"We are going to make the proposal, and Minister (Hartarto) has also asked us to hold a special meeting for this purpose. If we can initiate it in August, the laboratory can be set up in 2019," he asserted.
In connection with issues related to the use of chemical weapons, the governments of the 10 ASEAN member states share their common concerns. This, for instance, can be observed from their common stance on the situation in Syria.
In their statement that they made in Singapore last April, the ASEAN foreign ministers condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the use of chemical weapons by any party under any circumstances, as this would constitute a serious violation of international law.
"ASEAN Member States take our international obligations as States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention seriously," the ASEAN foreign ministers said in their statement.
Reported by Ade Irma Junida
(T.R013/INE)
(T.R013/A/KR-BSR/F001)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
