Australian Embassy
Vietnam

Media Release - Professor Gareth Evans Visit to Vietnam

Eliminating Nuclear Threats: Co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and former Australian Foreign Minister Visits Vietnam

 5 April 2010

Professor Gareth Evans AO QC, Co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) and former Australian Foreign Minister, visited Hanoi from 5 to 6 April to present the outcomes of the Commission’s recently released report ‘Eliminating Nuclear Threats: A Practical Agenda for Global Policymakers’ in the lead up to Vietnam’s attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington from 12 to 13 April and the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May.

Functioning as an independent body, the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the Australian and Japanese governments. The Commission’s report addresses the whole range of issues and challenges relating to nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy policymaking.

“The Commission hopes to reinvigorate high-level debate on the world stage. With new U.S. and Russian leadership seriously committed to nuclear disarmament action, there is an opportunity to resolve the problem of nuclear weapons and the misuse of nuclear materiel once and for all”, said Professor Evans.

“As we see countries like Vietnam explore civil nuclear energy programs, global efforts need to be continued with all relevant players to ensure that the requisite safeguards, security and safety procedures are in place to support such peaceful uses of nuclear energy.”

As Australian Foreign Minister (1988-96), Professor Evans was recognised for his roles in developing the UN peace plan for Cambodia, concluding the Chemical Weapons Convention, and initiating new Asia Pacific regional economic and security architecture. Professor Evans said that he was delighted to witness Vietnam’s development achievements in recent years and emergence as a key player in the region following the successful completion of Vietnam’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

During the visit, Professor Evans met Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr Pham Binh Minh and H.E. Mr Doan Xuan Hung, and members of leading research institutes involved in nuclear issues.