05 September 2015 - The Philippines, represented by Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo, co-chaired the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Mongolia’s Nuclear Weapon Free Status, with Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Damba Gankhuyag on September 03 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The two-day workshop, initiated by Mongolia and supported by the Philippines in the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum, highlights Mongolia’s unique experience in establishing a Nuclear Weapon Free Status and its continuing efforts to promote its status.  Officials of the Mongolian government shared the history of Mongolia’s initiative to declare itself a nuclear weapons free country arising from the imperative of its peculiar geographical location between two nuclear powers, Russia and China, and the status of its pursuit of international recognition of this initiative. Other participants exchanged ideas on reinforcing existing Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NFWZs), news ways of promoting nuclear non-proliferation in non-traditional cases, and examined the current practice of NWFZs like that of the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ).  In examining the next steps, both strategic and operational issues that can advance NWFZs in the wider context of non-proliferation were discussed.

In his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary Domingo said the Philippines looks forward to continue working with Mongolia on issues on non-proliferation under the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Speakers from government, civil society and the academe participated in the three panel sessions of the Workshop, including Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo, Dr. Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan of Blue Banner, Mr. Yuriy Kryvonos of the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Development (UNRCPD), Deputy Director Dashdorj Bayarkhuu of Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Col. Dorjjugder Munkh-Ochir of Mongolia’s Ministry of Defense, Mr. Jamiyandagva Adiyasuren of the Institute of Strategies Studies of Mongolia, and Ms. Usana Berananda of the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

Thirty-nine (39) participants from 14 ARF member states namely, the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Lao PDR, Canada, Russia, Korea, Viet Nam, and the United States took part in the workshop. END