UNITED NATIONS, New York — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo reiterated to the international community the Philippines’ constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and the country’s policy of working for the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.
The secretary made the statement here yesterday during the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Ratifying States of the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) where he also called for the early entry into force of the CTBT. Secretary Romulo is in this city for the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Nuclear weapons are the dark legacy left by the Cold War. But many of us have chosen not to live in its shadow. Enshrined in the Constitution of my country is a strict prohibition against nuclear weapons," Romulo told foreign ministers.
To emphasize the importance of nuclear disarmament, he pointed out that nuclear weapons maintain an ominous presence in potential conflicts that could directly affect the Philippines, saying "in my region alone, from the Korean peninsula, to the Taiwan Straits, to the South China Sea and to South Asia, the specter of conflict with a decidedly nuclear dimension, hangs heavily over all our lives."
"It is in this spirit that the Philippines joins efforts to prevent the further spread of these weapons and efforts that could lead to their eventual elimination. The CTBT is an important part of these efforts," he added.
Romulo pointed out that the Philippines is playing its part in helping the CTBT’s verification and on-site inspection regime.
"As part of the global network comprising the International Monitoring System (IMS) that can locate and characterize nuclear weapons tests, the Philippines hosts three auxiliary aeismic monitoring facilities as well as one National Data Center and concluded a Facility Agreement for the operation and maintenance of these three facilities," he said.
He also expressed strong support to the Joint Ministerial Statement on the CTBT calling for universal adherence to the CTBT. "It signifies my country’s commitment to maintaining a stable and peaceful international and regional environment."
"If we are to begin to break away from the legacy of fear and dread that dominated our bipolar world, if we are to live in an enlightened and safer world, we must redouble our efforts and bring this important and historic agreement into force," he said.
