The 12th meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on

Following the 11th meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on "Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Asia - Pacific" in Singapore in early July, more than 50 security experts from other countries in Asia-Pacific region (including some masaj ankara members of the ASEAN Regional Forum on Non-proliferation and Disarmament) gathered  in Ho Chi Minh City on 16th and 17th December 2010 to attend the 12th meeting and also the Study Group�s last meeting of this year. CSCAP Vietnam  and USCSCAP Representatives co-chaired the meeting.

Mr. Ralph A. Cossa and Mr. Nguyen Hung Son, the representatives of USCSCAP and CSCAP Vietnam, co-chair the meeting (the 3rd and 4th from the left)

In the meeting, the participants looked back the development of energy, weapons and global nuclear policy this year, including Nuclear Security Summit (Washington, in May),  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference  (New York, in May),  the meeting of the Disarmament and International Security Committee -  the United Nations Security Council (New York,  on September - October), Workshop on Implementing the UN Security Council Resolution  1540 (Hanoi, September-October) with new development in the discussions on arms control measures, a new START treaty, new activities of the Organization for Implementing the Agreement on Prevention of chemical weapons, biological and  other toxic weapons... The meeting also discussed  new occurences in the Korean peninsula, the nuclear situation  in Iran... and the implications of these developments to security situation of the region.

In particular, following the last 11th meeting and in the context of the complicated nuclear programs in the world,  nuclear security continues to be the mainly-focused subject of the meeting. The delegates focused on analyzing the increasing need of nuclear energy  in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, the implications of building nuclear power plants in the region and measures to prevent proliferation  risks happening in this process. Strengthening regional cooperation (especially in the  input controlling and output handling of nuclear materials) and  increasing national capacity in protecting the nuclear energy’s production facilities are the key discussed solutions. In addition, at the end of the meeting, the participants also discussed perfect reconstruction the Expert Group of Nuclear Energy CSCAP, reviewed the draft minute of CSCAP on the use of safe nuclear energy, the updated handbook CSCAP on Preventing  proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Asia - Pacific region and discussed orientation activities in the future.

* In parallel with the 12th meeting of Study Group CSCAP on "Preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction  in  the Asia - Pacific ", Young Leadership Program by the Pacific Forum –  Center for Strategic  and International  Studies was held with the participation of the 28 delegates who are graduate students and professional young researchers from many countries in the Asia - Pacific. Participating the program, the Young leaders Representatives not only attended meeting sessions of the CSCAP Study Group on "Preventing  nuclear proliferation in the Asian -Pacific region” and were encouraged to express comments, opinions in these sessions,  but also had  a chance to talk with the first-ranked  regional security experts about nuclear issues. In addition, this year's program has facilitated the young leaders representatives with a tour in History Museum  in Ho Chi Minh City and an exchange meeting with students of International Relations Faculty, the University of Social Sciences & Humanities of Ho Chi Minh City.

Delegates  of Young Leaders Program  join meetings