Indonesian delegation discusses nuclear security
As the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) is hosted by the Netherlands on the 24th and 25th of March 2014, the topic of nuclear security is widely discussed in the diplomatic world.
A group of 22 Indonesian Junior Diplomats participated in an 8-week training course at the Clingendael Academy. Of course this was a great opportunity for these young diplomats to discuss the topics of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear security and the NSS with different experts and representatives of international organisations in The Hague.
Together with Dr. Niels van Willigen (Leiden University), the participants discussed the topic of international security challenges and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They spoke about nuclear weapons, the relevance of arms control and non-proliferation. Of course the discussion also included the control of chemical weapons and the current developments in Syria.
The OPCW
To continue the discussion on the process of the destruction of chemical agents from Syria, the Indonesian delegation visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This organisation is in charge of the joint mission, together with the UN, to remove the Syrian chemicals out of the country. The young diplomats discussed the history of the use of chemical weapons, which started during World war I in Belgium, and talked about the more recent cases involving the Iran-Iraq war and the chemical (sarin gas) terrorist attack in the subway of Tokyo in 1995. These cases show the importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the relevance of the existence and the work of the OPCW, for which the organisation received the Nobel Peace Prize 2013.
Nuclear Security
After the discussions on the prevention of the use of chemical weapons, the Indonesian diplomats were eager to learn more about nuclear security and the agenda of the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), to be held in The Hague. During the NSS the delegations will discuss the possibilities to prevent nuclear terrorism by reducing the amount of dangerous nuclear material in the world, improving the security of all nuclear material and radioactive sources, and improving international cooperation.
The Indonesian delegation discussed the potential outcomes of this international summit with Paul Wilke. He is the organizer of the Nuclear Knowledge Summit.
The Indonesian delegation in front of the Clingendael Institute
Nuclear Knowledge Summit
Today and tomorrow (21st and 22nd of March) the Nuclear Knowledge Summit (NKS) is held in Amsterdam. This is one of the official side events of the Nuclear Security Summit. The NKS will bring together nuclear experts and NGO participants from all over the world. Follow all presentations and discussions via the livestream.