SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, Wednesday 13 Nov 2013 – The 2nd Seoul Defense Dialogue has just concluded in Seoul last week. The two-day forum was officially opened by the Minister of National Defense, Republic of Korea, His Excellency Kim Kwanjin.
His Excellency Chun Hongwon, the Prime Minister of the Republic Korea, also made an address in the event. It featured a keynote address by Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation Europe (OSCE) Secretary General as well as other prominent speakers including practitioners and academics to share views and ideas on Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia and Comprehensive Security in the Asia-Pacific region, Global Non-Proliferation Efforts, Cyber Security and Defence Planning in Budget Constraint.
Brunei’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, who was also one of the panel speakers, presented in the session on Global Non-Proliferation and the Role of Asia-Pacific Countries.
In his presentation, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed Brunei’s support to the principle of a nuclear weapon free world through cooperation in non-proliferation efforts within the international frameworks and its accession to a number of international agreements and treaties. He then stressed on the important role of regional and international organisations in achieving the objective of complete disarmament and spread of nuclear technology.
On regional responsibility, the Deputy Minister highlighted existing regional nuclear free zones. He particularly mentioned ASEAN’s achievement in establishing the South East Asia Nuclear Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995, which remains strongly relevant and applicable until today. As well as this, the Treaty provided the principle basis on which ASEAN pursue its collaboration on peaceful use of nuclear energy with other countries including in nuclear safety and safeguards.
The Deputy Minister further shared on the challenges in reaching a consensus in non-proliferation in two major areas namely nuclear test ban and in preventing widespread proliferation by persuading the nuclear threshold countries to subscribe to the principle of non-proliferation. He saw that the advent of technology adds another dimension to the challenge. With the rapid change and dual use of technology may render current efforts on non-proliferation ineffective and irrelevant.
He also stated the cooperation in good faith as the basis of international efforts in non-proliferation where every nation would subscribe to the value and principle in the non-proliferation regime. Here, he emphasised the importance of confidence building measures in bringing countries on the path of non-proliferation.
The Deputy Minister also held separate calls on the Vice Minister of National Defense, Republic of Korea His Excellency Baek Seungjoo, and with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Indonesia, His Excellency Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, to discuss on matters in strengthening defence cooperation between the two sides.
The Seoul Defense Dialogue was first held in 2012 with the aim to enhance cooperation and trust among the Asia-Pacific countries and better respond to newly emerging security threats.
