"This is the day when Indonesia can assert its leadership as a cofounder of ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement," executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Tibor Toth said here on Tuesday after attending a House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session which endorsed Indonesia`s accession to the treaty.
Toth said Tuesday`s ratification by Indonesia gives a strong message to the world to say no to nuclear weapons and say yes to the treaty which was part of the efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.
He also said by ratifying the CTBT, Indonesia was not only saving its people from the dangerous threat of nuclear weapons but also gaining benefit in terms of natural disaster management efforts as the CTBT auxiliary system already stationed in some parts of the country could also detect earthquakes and possible tsunami waves.
Toth expressed hope that other countries, especially members of the Annex II (group of countries comprising nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states), would soon ratify the CTBT.
Up till now, there are 36 members of Annex II, including Indonesia, who have signed and ratified the CTBT. The other eight countries that have yet to ratify the treaty are the United States, Israel, North Korea, China, India, Pakistan and Egypt.
On the same occasion, e Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa expressed appreciation for Parliament`s decision to ratify the CTBT.
"The ratification will strengthen Indonesia`s stance in supporting the non proliferation and total eradication of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons," the minister said.
He said Indonesia would henceforth make efforts to persuade other countries to ratify the CTBT.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
