The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, the Peace Research Centre (PRC), Canberra and the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Munich, jointly organised an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) seminar on non-proliferation in Jakarta, on 6-7 December 1996. The seminar was attended by more than 50 academics and officials in their personal capacities, including representation from every ARF member.

ARF 96 Chairman's Statement

The Chairman's Statement from the Third ARF, held 23 July 1996 in Jakarta, included a reference to this an ARF 'Track Two' seminar.

Purpose

The ARF Track Two Seminar was convened to discuss 1) challenge of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Asia Pacific region; 2) the adequacy of the currently available international and regional instruments for meeting the challenge; and 3) measures that might be adopted to strengthen the barriers to proliferation and to encourage further disarmament.

This Statement reflects the Chairs sense of the tenor and conclusions of the discussions.

Main Conclusions

In their deliberations, seminar participants were guided by the vision of a world eventually free of all weapons of mass destruction. On balance, the structural changes in world affairs in the past few years have been beneficial for non-proliferation and disarmament. The seminar endorsed the integral linkage between nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, which is part of the NPT package. Biological and chemical weapons too need to be given attention and importance commensurate with the gravity of the problem posed by their proliferation potential. Participants acknowledged that considerable progress has been made in controlling the spread and inhibiting the use of weapons of mass destruction, and that cautious optimism is not misplaced. Some credit for the progress achieved must be given to internationally recognised regimes which impose technical, normative, legal and political barriers to proliferation. However, the agendas for non-proliferation and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery remain incomplete.

The global non-proliferation norm is embedded in the NPT, to which almost every ARF country adheres. Participants concluded that global regimes make demonstrable contributions to regional security. There was consensus that the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region have flowed at least in part from the widespread adherence by regional countries to the non-proliferation norms and regimes. Coordination, consultation and cooperation have become established norms in the region, as exemplified in the ARF processes. These also contribute to regional security by forming additional pillars of the global non-proliferation architecture.

Recommendations

Participants agreed that the Track Two Seminar should come up with practical and relevant recommendations which can be taken up for consideration by the ARF Track One or Two processes.

First Track

Participants urged ARF countries to sign/ratify the major global non-proliferation regimes (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Biological Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention ) and vest them with the requisite political will, and administrative and financial support, in order to reinforce and adapt them to the evolving needs of the Asia Pacific. The Third ARF Chairman's Statement encouraged, as a suitable confidence building measure for ARF member countries, active support for the above four internationally recognised agreements. In this regard, ARF countries should provide support for implementation of Decision Two: Principles and Objectives of the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, in particular the establishment of internationally recognised nuclear weapons free zones, nuclear disarmament, and the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on the Convention banning the production of fissile material for nuclear explosive devices. In addition, participants urged the immediate ratification of START II and the early commencement of negotiations on START III.

Participants reaffirmed the importance of the adherence by ARF countries to the existing norms of peaceful applications of nuclear energy. Some participants suggested that the ARF explore the possibility of the establishment of an appropriate forum to encourage enhanced transparency in the Asia Pacific.

Second Track

Participants discussed the dangers of cross-regional spillover of proliferation. In that context, and recalling the Third ARF Chairman's Statement which described regional dialogue on non-proliferation/disarmament issues as a confidence-building measure in itself, participants urged the Chairs to consider convening an ARF Track Two seminar on the CTBT in India, in order to facilitate an exchange of views. The ARF might also consider the convening of in-country seminars on non-proliferation led by eminent strategic experts.

The Seminar urged the ARF to establish a Study Group on the most appropriate formulation and mechanism to assure non-nuclear weapons states against the threat or use of nuclear weapons.

Next step

The Chair agreed to forward this Statement to the ARF senior officials for consideration.