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Indonesia's Retno Marsudi call for concrete actions on total elimination of nuclear weapons

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Tempo - September 27, 2024

Tempo.Co, Kemlu.Go.Id, Jakarta – During the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, conveyed Indonesia's strong commitment to realizing a world free of nuclear weapons.

In her speech, Retno believed that the world is still under the shadow of the threat of nuclear destruction, even if it dreams of a hopeful shared future.

"As many as 13,000 nuclear weapons are retained by a handful of states, including some outside the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)," she said on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Retno also highlighted global concerns over the retreat of arms control agreements, the rise of aggressive nuclear rhetoric, and technological advances such as artificial intelligence (AI) that further complicate nuclear risks.

"Against these grim developments we should ask ourselves: Should fear of nuclear weapons be our guarantee for peace? Indonesia's answer will forever be no," Retno said, as quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Indonesia formally submitted the instrument of ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to the UN on September 25. Retno reiterated Indonesia's refusal to remain silent amid the threat of nuclear war that is higher today than during the Cold War.

Instead, Retno Marsudi called for a global focus on three concrete action steps:

First, Retno emphasized that countries must start disarmament negotiations in earnest. Silence is not an option, she said. 'We must renew our political will and redouble our efforts to advance disarmament, rebuild trust, and move towards a nuclear weapons-free world," she said.

Second, Foreign Minister Retno called for the importance of strong regulations and strict controls to prevent the increasing threat of nuclear conflict due to technological advances.

Third, to maintain peace, she called for countries to put aside divisions, distrust, and old paradigms, and choose unity, cooperation, and commitment to peace.

Retno concluded her speech by stating that the choices made today will shape the world for future generations. "Fear should not dictate our future. Indonesia remains resolute in our goal for total elimination of nuclear weapons," she concluded.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1921478/indonesias-retno-marsudi-call-for-concrete-actions-on-total-elimination-of-nuclear-weapon

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