Singapore’s position paper for the Nuclear Security Summit, held on 12-13 April 2010 at Washington DC.

We endeavour to play an active and constructive role through various regional and international fora, such as ASEAN, the UN, its specialised agencies, and related organisations such as the IAEA.

Singapore is party to key international non-proliferation treaties:

• Biological Weapons Convention (ratified in December 1975);
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (ratified in March 1976);
• Chemical Weapons Convention (ratified in May 1997); and
• Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (ratified in November 2001).

We are working on accession to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and ratification of the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (CSANT).

Singapore takes seriously our international obligations under these treaties as well as under UNSC Resolution 1540 which calls on all UN member states to have effective domestic controls against the illicit trafficking of WMD items, their means of delivery and related materials.

Singapore has, since January 2003, put in place an enhanced export control system for strategic goods exported, transhipped, transiting through Singapore.

In addition to controlling the export, transhipment, transit of goods and technology related to WMD, our Strategic Goods (Control) Act (SGCA) includes a catch-all provision[1], brokering controls, sharing of intelligence with other countries, and controls on the Intangible Transfer of Technology (ITT), which is a unique feature yet to be implemented in many export control systems in the world.

In order to enhance the integrity of our export control system, our strategic goods controls list [3] has been expanded to cover all items listed under the four multilateral export control regimes – the Australia Group, Wassenaar Arrangement, Nuclear Suppliers Group, and Missile Technology Control Regime with effect from 1 January 2008.

Regular reviews are conducted to ensure that our system is in line with international practices. Outreach programmes are also held regularly to ensure that the Singapore business community, particularly multinational companies, are aware of the latest developments and requirements with which they have to comply.

In addition to the SGCA, Singapore has adopted a number of Regulations and administrative measures in response to the specific UNSC Resolutions on Iran and the DPRK. These include financial measures such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Freezing of Assets of Persons – Iran) Regulations 2007, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (Freezing of Assets of Persons – DPRK) Regulations 2009.

As a major financial centre and a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Singapore also complies with FATF guidelines to combat proliferation financing. Singapore encourages the UN and FATF to work closely and meaningfully with countries so as to safeguard the integrity of the global financial system.

Singapore believes that enhanced international and regional cooperation is the way forward to combat the proliferation of WMD and their related systems. To this end, Singapore participates actively in various non- and counter-proliferation initiatives. Singapore is an active participant in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) that aims to disrupt the proliferation of WMD related-material to states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. We are a member of the PSI’s Operational Experts Group (OEG) and have hosted PSI exercises, the most recent of which was Exercise Deep Sabre II in October 2009.

Unlike traditional multilateral initiatives, PSI is not restricted to the “lowest common denominator” amongst members, but instead encourages participation according to each state’s ability. We are heartened that the PSI has gathered significant momentum since it was launched in 2003 and enjoys broad-based support from 95 countries.

In addition, as a major container port, we take our responsibilities towards enhancing the security of sea-freight cargo movement seriously. Singapore was the first port in Asia to sign the Container Security Initiative (CSI) Declaration of Principles in September 2002. Singapore also participates in the Megaports Initiative under the US National Nuclear Security Administration’s Second Line of Defence Programme. Singapore is currently working out the administrative arrangements for subscribing to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT).

In July 2009, Singapore, China and the US co-hosted the inaugural ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (NPD). During the meeting, ARF countries discussed the implementation of UNSCR 1540 as well as shared experiences and best practices in their respective export control regimes. The focus of the next ARF ISM on NPD is “Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Energy and Technology”, which will be hosted by Singapore in July 2010.

To help in regional capacity building, Singapore has also readily shared our experiences and the challenges that we have faced in implementing an export control regime. In January 2010, Singapore participated in the 17th Asian Export Control Seminar hosted by Japan, during which we provided a briefing on Singapore’s export control regime and chaired the session on industry outreach.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has played an important role in promoting the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. It is the only international agency to date with authority and which has played a central role in setting norms and standards for the implementation of an effective nuclear security infrastructure. The Nobel Peace Prize for the IAEA in 2005 is recognition of this.

Singapore strongly supports the work of the IAEA. The renaissance of nuclear energy has given a boost to the IAEA and its role as a standards-setting body for the safe and secure use of nuclear energy. In view of the nuclear terrorism threat, the IAEA’s role in non-proliferation has also assumed greater importance. It is in this context that Singapore firmly believes that we must support the strengthening of the IAEA to ensure that it remains effective and capable of responding to new international security challenges. Singapore ratified the IAEA Additional Protocol in March 2008. We are working out the administrative details to join the IAEA’s Illicit Trafficking Database.

As a state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we view the IAEA’s three pillars of work, namely Safety and Security; Safeguards and Verification; and Science and Technology, as being complementary and of equal importance. Hence, we also support the expansion of the IAEA’s cooperation with member states in the technical, scientific and medical aspects of nuclear usage.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the issues discussed at the IAEA have become politicised. Concerns have been expressed that the promotion of safety and security standards and adherence to the IAEA’s safeguards and verification regime are attempts to obstruct countries’ access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses. This should not be the case. We believe that States have a right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes but that right must be exercised in compliance with their non-proliferation obligations to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for the international community.

Singapore has not ruled out nuclear energy to meet our needs and will soon embark on a feasibility study which will entail a careful and rigorous examination of the technical, economic and safety aspects of nuclear energy. The process is still at a preliminary stage but we will enhance our cooperation with the IAEA and nuclear suppliers as our study progresses.

Singapore will join the Board of Governors of the IAEA in September 2010.

We look forward to working together with IAEA member states to advance the work of the Agency.