Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum
5th Annual Meeting January 7-10, 1997
Vancouver, Canada

Resolution submitted by the Australian delegation

on

Nuclear Weapons

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum,

Recalling the resolution on Nuclear Weapons Testing approved by acclamation at the Fourth Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Cha-am, Thailand in January 1996,

Reaffirming that a world free of nuclear weapons would enhance international peace and security,

Recognising the long-standing commitment of South Pacific countries to a region free of nuclear weapons as represented in the establishment of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone,

Noting with satisfaction the recent accession of the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and France to the Protocols to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty,

Recalling the successful conclusion of the South East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty,

Noting that many countries in the Asia Pacific region have continuing concerns about the potential negative effects of nuclear weapons testing on the health and the enviroment of the peoples in the region;

Welcomes the successful adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996, and its opening for signature on 24 September 1996 at the United Nations in New York,

Affirms that the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty makes an historic contribution to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the ultimate goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons,

Considers that the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has special significance for the Asia Pacific as the only region of the world where all the nuclear weapon states have at some time conducted a nuclear test,

Notes with approval that the Governments of the United States, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, France and China signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on 24 September 1996 in New York, thereby committing themselves to a permanent end to nuclear testing.

Strongly urges all members of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum to give their unequivocal support to efforts to encourage all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as quickly as possible so that the Treaty can be implemented without undue delay.

Adopted unanimously on January 9, 1997 in Vancouver.

Source: http://www.appf.org.pe/meeting/fifth/res002.htm

28 February 2002