NPT/CONF.2005/PC.1/5

Original: English
First session
New York, 8-19 April 2002

1. Thailand's Policy on Nuclear Disarmament

1.1 Thailand supports the process of the disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). As a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and a Non-Nuclear Weapon State (NNWS), Thailand strictly adheres to the policy of not using, developing, seeking, accumulating and disseminating nuclear weapons.

1.2 Thailand is in the process of ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) which is a Treaty that reinforces the NPT. In this connection, Thailand has established a Sub-Committee on the implementation of the CTBT to prepare for the implementation of the commitments and obligations set out in the Treaty.

2. Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ)

2.1 Thailand has a policy of supporting the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone in Southeast Asia by cooperating with countries in the region under the framework of the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty. SEANWFZ is an important component of the plan to create a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) in the region. Furthermore, SEANWFZ helps support nuclear disarmament efforts and facilitates the implementation of relevant international agreements. To enhance the significance of the SEANWFZ Treaty and to ensure that it has greater impact, States Parties to the Treaty have adopted a policy of encouraging the five Nuclear Weapon States (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States) to support the Treaty by signing its Protocol.

2.2 Thailand is a depository State of the SEANWFZ. Apart from complying with the unilateral obligations under the Treaty, Thailand also implements the advocacy and cooperative aspects of the Treaty in the following manner.

2.2.1 Implementation by State Parties: Thailand has undertaken practical measures such as the organization of regional seminars to encourage the implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty and to enhance cooperation amongst States Parties who are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These include (1) ASEAN-IAEA Workshop on the Implementation of the SEANWFZ Treaty in Bangkok on 23-25 August 2000, and (2) SEANWFZ/IAEA Regional Workshop on Strategic Plan for Radiation Safety in Bangkok on 11 August 2001. Moreover, ASEAN has created several mechanisms to oversee the implementation of the Treaty by States Parties such as the Working Group of the Executive Committee for SEANWFZ (at the level of Deputy Directors-General), the Executive Committee for SEANWFZ (at the level of Permanent Secretaries) and the Commission for SEANWFZ (at the level of Ministers).

2.2.2 Consultations with NWS: ASEAN has conducted consultations with all five NWS regarding the accession of the NWS to the SEANWFZ Treaty in Hanoi on 19 November 2001. Both sides had a fruitful exchange of views on issues of concern to the NWS regarding their accession to the Treaty's Protocol. The said meetings were able to achieve substantial progress and ASEAN plans to hold similar consultations in the future to resolve the remaining issues.

3. Cooperation Between Thailand and the CTBTO

Although the CTBT is not yet in force and Thailand has not yet ratified the Treaty, Thailand has acted under its Treaty obligations by being part of the International Monitoring System (IMS) under the Treaty. In this connection, Thailand is in the process of considering the Draft Facility Agreement with the CTBT/PrepCom regarding the establishment of a radionuclide monitoring station and primary seismic monitoring station in Nakorn Pathom province and Chiang Mai province respectively.