Commemorating 20 Years of the Treaty of Rarotonga
PRESS STATEMENT
Wednesday 13 December 2006 A Nuclear Weapons-Free Pacific: Forum commemorates 20 years of the Treaty of Rarotonga The Pacific Islands Forum this week recognised the 20th anniversary of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, better known as the Treaty of Rarotonga. The Forum called on all countries of the world to continue working towards the global abolition of nuclear weapons. “The entry into force of the Treaty of Rarotonga on 11 December 1986 was an historic day for the Pacific region,” said the Forum’s Acting Secretary General, Iosefa Maiava. “The Pacific islands have a long history of supporting disarmament, born of the region’s harsh experience with nuclear testing by colonial powers in the Pacific,” he said. “The Treaty of Rarotonga established only the second populated Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the world, and demonstrated the leadership of Pacific Islands Forum members on the key international security issue of the day.” Mr Maiava added: “In the 20 years since the Treaty’s entry into force, Forum members have continued to work in support of international peace and security, and against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. “The Parties to the Rarotonga Treaty are proud to be part of a growing global network of Nuclear Weapons Free Zones. “We particularly welcome establishment of a new Zone by five Central Asian states this year, and support and encourage the efforts of states in South Asia and the Middle East towards establishing those regions as Nuclear Weapons Free Zones.” Mr Maiava also welcomed the support of China, the former USSR, France and the United Kingdom, which had become Parties to the Treaty’s three Protocols since its entry into force. The Protocols bind nuclear weapons states not to undertake activities involving nuclear weapons, including nuclear testing, within the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. The US government has signed but is yet to ratify the Protocols. “We urge the US to demonstrate its commitment to global nuclear non-proliferation, and cement its credibility in the region as a responsible nuclear weapons state, by ratifying the Protocols”, said Mr Maiava. (Ends) For more information contact Ms Shennia Spillane, Legal Adviser, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, ph +679 331 2600 |
2006