Malaysia Plays Active Role In Drafting Seoul Communique

From Ravichandran Rajamanickam SEOUL, March 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has played an active role particularly in drafting together the Seoul Communiqué which is scheduled to be released by the leaders at the conclusion of Nuclear Security Summit beginning here Monday. Speaking to Malaysian reporters here Sunday, Malaysian ambassador to South Korea Ramlan Ibrahim said the Seoul Communiqué was a political statement regarding efforts to continue to strengthen the security of the nuclear material and technology. Among other things, the Seoul Communiqué covered issues concerning coordination and integration of the international nuclear safety framework, ensure safe and effective management of radioactive elements and strengthening the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and increasing contribution to the Nuclear Safety Fund. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and American President Barack Obama are among the leaders from the 53 countries who will be attending the two-day summit following the first summit held in Washington in 2010. "The summit meeting will discuss matters concerning a guarantee on the safety of the nuclear materials and technology in efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism. We fully support the efforts to ensure nuclear safety and that the nuclear materials did not get into the hands of terrorists...this is the role that Malaysia will emphasise on at the summit meeting," Ramlan said. According to Ramlan, the Seoul Communique was also expected to touch on issues ensuring the safety of highly enriched uranium and plutonium, two basic materials used in the making of the nuclear bomb. In addition, it would also touch on the promotion of transportation safety and opposing the illegal trading of nuclear materials and radioactive sources, as well as enhancing the security of confidential materials. Besides Malaysia, other Asean member countries invited to the summit are the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Other countries included South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Mexico. Five heads of international/regional organisations are also scheduled to attend the summit including the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) Ban Ki-moon. Ramlan said that for the first time, nuclear safety would be discussed following the nuclear accident in Fukushima in March last year. Replying to a question, Ramlan said the North Korean nuclear issue was not in the agenda of the summit meeting. He said that besides Malaysia, many other countries that did not possess nuclear weapons and nuclear plant were invited to participate in the meeting, including those from among the Asean member countries. "This (nuclear safety) is a global effort to raise awareness...it needs the commitment of many other countries," he added. -- BERNAMA