THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Cabinet okays notification on UN nuclear weapons ban treaty

Cabinet okays notification on UN nuclear weapons ban treaty

The Cabinet has approved a notification on the nuclear weapons prohibition treaty, deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will be forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Thailand's Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York City, to submit to the UN secretary-general.

The treaty is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with the eventual aim of eliminating them. It was adopted on July 7, 2017, opened for signature on September 20, 2017, and entered into force on January 22, 2021. Thailand is among the initial proponents of a nuclear weapons ban.

If there is an amendment to the draft that is not material or contrary to the interests of Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorised to consider the changes without seeking approval from the Cabinet.

She said that the draft announcement for the treaty notifies that Thailand has never owned, controlled nuclear weapons, or other nuclear bombs on the territory of the Kingdom of Thailand or anywhere under the jurisdiction or control of the Kingdom of Thailand which other states own, possess or control.

Thailand had to take action as the treaty was signed and ratified on September 20, 2017. After Honduras became the 50th state to ratifify on October 24, 2020, the treaty went into effect on January 22, 2021. Therefore, Thailand had to hurry the draft announcement to meet the timeframe set in the treaty, requiring Thailand to submit notices to the UN chief within 30 days, or February 21, 2021.

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