MONGOLIA AT ARF INTER-SESSIONAL SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A delegation led by Mr Ch.Bayarmonh, a head of the Asia-Pacific Department of the Ministry of External Relations and Economic Cooperation, participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Support Group Meeting on conference building measures and preventive diplomacy on December 2-3 in Melaka of Malaysia, reported on Monday Mongolia’s Ministry. Mr Bayarmonkh presented Mongolia’s concept on its nuclear weapon-free status. He said Mongolia discussed its nuclear weapon-free status for the first time at the regional level during a meeting last July in Tokyo, Japan, considering that this status is one of the vital factors of ensuring the stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region. He added that Mongolia proposes holding a regional consultative meeting next year in Ulaanbaatar. This year’s ARF meeting approved its agendas for the next meeting, including follow-up meetings on Mongolia’s status such as conference of chief officials and Ministers. It means that a big opportunity has opened to deliver the nuclear weapon-free status of Mongolia to the center of attention of the regional security dialogue and to collaborate with ARF countries in the issue. Joining 27 countries including Mongolia, the ARF is a mechanism of talks on the political and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The ARF’s objectives are outlined in the First ARF Chairman's Statement (1994) to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern; and to make significant contributions to efforts towards confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.