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VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized the importance of nuclear weapons destruction to prevent misuse and eliminate threats. She conveyed this when attending the High-Level Plenary Meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Destruction of Nuclear Weapons at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States, Tuesday (26/9/2023).

"The only way to prevent the misuse and eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to totally and thoroughly destroy them," she said in a statement received by Indonesia Window here.

On that occasion, Retno Marsudi also delivered the ASEAN Joint Statement and the Indonesian government's national statement. According to her, ASEAN continues to be committed to promoting global efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons.

"However, ASEAN is concerned about the waning commitment of countries to fulfill their obligations," she said.

Therefore, the foreign minister called on countries to comply with and fulfill their obligations to various international treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The NPT is the main reference for countries in global efforts for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Therefore, according to the Foreign Minister, strong political will is needed to maintain the integrity and implement the Treaty effectively.

"ASEAN calls on nuclear weapon states to fulfill their commitments and obligations as mandated by the NPT," Retno said.

In addition, Retno emphasized that ASEAN strongly rejects nuclear testing, as stated in the CTBT. According to her, ASEAN calls on countries to comply with the Treaty, and encourages countries that have not signed and ratified this treaty to do so immediately.

"ASEAN remains committed to creating a Southeast Asian region free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction," she said.

Meanwhile, in her national statement, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed the importance of creating a world free of nuclear weapons. Therefore, the total destruction of nuclear weapons must be carried out and must be included in an important global agenda, including through the New Agenda for Peace proposed by the UN Secretary General in strengthening multilateralism and creating peace.

She also reminded the importance of ensuring the right to be able to develop and utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Therefore, close collaboration is needed in utilizing nuclear technology including for agriculture, health and industry. The utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes will contribute significantly to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

"That way, the 'Doomsday Clock' needle does not need to reach midnight," the Foreign Minister concluded her statement.

Indonesia ratified and became a state party to the NPT in 1978 and the CTBT in 2012. Currently, Indonesia is finalizing the ratification process of the TPNW.

The High-Level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is held annually to raise public awareness of the threat posed by nuclear weapons and the need for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. (VOI/Andy)