Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia
to the United Nations and other International Organizations
Vienna - Austria
PRESS RELEASE
INDONESIA WILL RATIFY
THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY
The Government of the Republic of Indonesia has decided to initiate the
process of the ratification for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The announcement was officially made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa, in his statement before
the general debate of the 2010 Review Conference of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in New York on 4 May 2010.
Indonesia is one of the countries listed in Annex II of the CTBT, the countries
whose ratification is required for the Treaty to entry into force, due the significance
of their nuclear activities and facilities. Indonesia has been a strong supporter of the
CTBT since its formal discussion at the Conference on Disarmament. After the
Resolution on the CTBT was finally adopted by the General Assembly, Indonesia
signed the Treaty on the same day it was opened for signature, on 24 September
1996. However, Indonesia chose in the past to withhold ratification pending
ratification by all the nuclear-weapon states and other states claiming possession of
nuclear weapons. This was due to the conviction that the nuclear weapon states and
other states claiming to possess nuclear weapons must first and foremost commit to
the ratification of the CTBT. Currently, Indonesia believes that its position of
principle has served its purpose, and has decided to enhance its contribution to the
disarmament agenda by initiating its own ratification.
Since it signed the CTBT, Indonesia has been actively contributing to the work
of the CTBTO. In cooperation with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO,
Indonesia has hosted various regional workshops related to the CTBT. The
devastating tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2004 triggered the extension of the
application of International Monitoring System in Vienna to disaster early warning.
Within that context, Indonesia has signed with the Preparatory Commission of the
CTBTO an agreement on Tsunami Early Warning. Indonesia will soon sign a Facility
Agreement with the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO, which will enable 6
seismic stations owned by Indonesia to supply seismic data to the International Data
Center in Vienna operated by the Preparatory Commission.
Indonesia is one of the leading countries in the pursuit of nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation. Indonesia played an important role in the
establishment of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ)
of 1995, also known as the Bangkok Treaty. Indonesia is also the Coordinator of the
Working Group on Disarmament of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Indonesia decided to announce its ratification during the 2010 NPT Review
Conference, among others, in order to help create a climate conducive to the success
of the ongoing NPT Review Conference. Indonesia expects that its decision for
ratification will provide more encouragement for the remaining countries in Annex
II, particularly the remaining nuclear weapon states and other states claiming to
possess nuclear weapon, to follow suit.
Enclosed herewith is the statement delivered by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Dr. R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa, during the
general debate of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and his remarks during the
opening of the CTBTO Exhibition ”Putting and End to Nuclear Explosion”, held in
the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on 4 May 2010.
For more information, please contact:
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Vienna
Contact person: Mr. Lalu Muhamad Iqbal
Phone: +43-1-47623
Mobile: +676 7883011
Email: lalu.iqbal@kbriwina.at