UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reaffirms its collective position against nuclear test and continues to stress the importance of achieving universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a UN envoy said here on Monday.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on International Day against Nuclear Tests, Vitavas Srivihok, permanent representative of Thailand to the United Nations said, on behalf of the member states of the ASEAN, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, "all of ASEAN Member States' ratification of the CTBT solidifies and bolsters our strong commitment to the international norm against nuclear testing, as well as our steadfast support to the CTBT."

"Bearing in mind the significance of the CTBT, we join others in urging the Annex 2 States to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible to realize its entry into force." the ASEAN representative said, adding that ASEAN deplores the conduct of nuclear tests, which are contrary to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and go against international efforts and norms against nuclear testing, non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.

ASEAN reiterates its support for efforts toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, while recognizing the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons. We affirm the importance of regional nuclear-weapon-free zones to the existing global non-proliferation regime, he said.

"We reiterate our commitment to preserve our region as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)," the diplomat said. Enditem

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