DILI, 24 july 2024 (TATOLI) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas accompanied by Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs and SOM Leader of Timor-Leste, Milena Rangel participated in the Meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Plan of Action to strengthen the SEANWFZ Treaty (2023-2027) and discussed ASEAN’s engagement with the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL).
Additionally, updates and future plans concerning the protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty were presented by Lao PDR.
Timor-Leste’s accession to the SEANWFZ Treaty was also discussed with positive progress.
Minister Freitas said that by joining the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty and fully committing to the comprehensive implementation of the treaty, “we aim to actively contribute to the collective efforts to ensure that our region remains free from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.”
“We believe that the existence of such a zone is vital for the long-term peace and security of Southeast Asia,” Minister Freitas concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
