Diplomatic Diary

24 countries have signed and ratified the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons:

Signed and ratified: Austria, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Gambia, Guyana, Holy See, Kazakhstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam.

In total 70 countries have signed the treaty, 47 have signed but not yet ratified. The treaty can only enter into force when 50 states ratify the treaty – until that time, pressure must be put on all countries to sign and ratify.

Signed, not ratified: Algeria, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea- Bissau, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Laos, Libya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu

Great news!

For more on global ban communities: https://staging.cnduk.org/global-ban-communities/ 

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!

Find out more about the global ban work. 

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