KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 – Malaysia remains concerned over the slow progress in the reduction of strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons, said its permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Datuk Hussein Haniff(pic). He said Kuala Lumpur was also “deeply disturbed” that the nuclear weapon states continued to modernise and upgrade their nuclear arsenals.
“Malaysia reiterates its call for the urgent conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances,” he said in a statement at the 2013 Substantive Session of the UN Disarmament Commission in New York on Monday.
Hussein said the Malaysian delegation was “particularly disappointed” over the postponement of the conference on the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East.
“In this regard, my delegation joins others in urging the UN secretary-general as well as the concerned states to convene the conference at the earliest possible opportunity, with the active participation of all states in the region,” he said.
Hussein further said that Malaysia welcomed the recent ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by Brunei Darussalam.
“Nevertheless, it’s coming to 17 years since the CTBT was opened for signature and yet it still remains non-operational. Malaysia continues to believe that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are two sides of the same coin.
“We call upon all states to work towards the entry into force of the CTBT,” he added.
BERNAMA
