Lavrov: Russia agrees to the creation of nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia
Russia agrees to the creation of a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia provided that all participants comply with the requirements of the treaty – as stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, RIA Novosti reports
The conditions under which Russia agrees to the creation of a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia include the requirement that all parties to the treaty will not possess, develop and deploy nuclear weapons, as well as their elements on their territory.
The Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry also recalled that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Southeast Asia was signed long ago.
“This is not about Russia joining the treaty, this is about a protocol to this treaty that invites nuclear states to sign this protocol, thereby providing guarantees to the parties of the treaty,” Sergei Lavrov clarified.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia is ready to sign the agreement.
“We’re ready to sign it along with other Security Council permanent member states with one stipulation. It literally states the following: we are providing the guarantees to all the parties to the treaty on a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia on the condition that all the participants in this treaty fulfil its requirements to not possess, not to develop and not to deploy any elements of nuclear arms on their territory,” Sergei Lavrov summed up.
