Diplomatic Diary

According to a new opinion poll conducted by the Belgian coalition against nuclear weaponry, two thirds of  Belgians asked want their country to sign up to the TPNW, indicating that ‘there is wide support for a more ambitious Belgian policy in the context of nuclear disarmament.’

Read more at: The Brussels Times

The Ecuadorian National Assembly has unanimously approved to vote for the global ban treaty. Next step – ratification!

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CND has been contacting embassies in London of countries that have signed but not ratified the global ban. In response to our inquiries, the embassy of Indonesia responded stating:

“Dear xxxxxxxx,

Many thanks for your email and interest in Indonesia’s perspective on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The Indonesian government is very clear in its commitment to implement the three pillars of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. Hence, we are among the first countries to sign to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The current global situation has indeed become a challenge in pursuing disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, particularly with the ever-increasing geopolitical tension. However, we remain committed to play a pivotal role in facilitating international initiatives to achieve general and complete nuclear disarmament just as we did with the Non-Aligned Movement Working Group on Disarmament and the creation of the South East Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ).
As we take up the non-permanent membership at the UNSC from 2019-2020, where Indonesia sets its priorities on strengthening peace ecosystem to support world peace; synergy with regional organization; cooperation to fight against terrorism, extremism, and radicalism; and to promote sustainable development, some objectives are designed for each priority and shall be in conformity with the aim and purpose of UNSC.
Regarding the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we would like to inform you that Indonesia is on the progress of the ratification process. Currently, the Government of Indonesia is preparing necessary documents for the process. We want to ensure that all domestic stakeholders concerned are consulted so that the treaty is inclusive and once ratified, the treaty will be properly implemented within our domestic system.
On the same time, we are also keen on hearing from you regarding your representatives to the P5 countries on the subject. We look forward to the further information from you.
Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia

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CND has been contacting embassies in London of countries that have signed but not ratified the global ban. In response to our inquiries, the embassy of Kazakhstan responded stating:

“Dear xxxxxxx,

Thank you very much for your letter and your interest in Kazakhstan’s non-proliferation and disarmament record.

Kazakhstan’s policy in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is determined by the country’s commitment to strengthening international security, developing cooperation among states, and increasing the role of international organizations in resolving global problems and conflicts.

At the high-level thematic meeting of the UN Security Council on the topic “Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Confidence-Building Measures”, organized by the Kazakh presidency of the UN Security Council on Jan. 18, our first president Nursultan Nazarbayev called on all countries to build a world without nuclear weapons by 2045 – the UN’s centennial.

“The strength is not in nuclear bombs and missiles. The trust of the world community is a real defence,” said the Kazakh President at the Security Council stressing that only nuclear disarmament and confidence-building measures through the complete elimination of nuclear arsenals constitute the only and absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

The President also noted that the nuclear weapons states bear the highest responsibility to humanity for preventing nuclear catastrophe.

“It is the largest nuclear powers that should be in the lead of the struggle for a nuclear weapons-free world and set an example by reducing WMD. This does not mean that the rest of the countries should stand by and that their actions are irrelevant”, said Nazarbayev.

On the day of the 26th anniversary of its accession to the United Nations – 2 March 2018, Kazakhstan officially signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the UN Headquarters.

Kazakhstan had participated in the elaboration and adoption of the Treaty, which is the first legally binding document in the history of nuclear disarmament. Its main provisions are in line with the principled position of Kazakhstan, which has taken a path of becoming a leader in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation after being a one-time holder of the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal.

At the moment, the bill on the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is being reviewed in Majilis – the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s Parliament. It is our hope that the law on ratification will be adopted by the end of this year, in line with regular dates and terms of parliamentary review in Kazakhstan.

I hope that you will find this update helpful. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Kind regards,

xxxxxxxx

Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom

 

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See more about the global ban communities work