In order to support the responsibilities of ASEANTOM member countries' regulatory bodies, in particular with regard to the regulation and implementation of conventions and agreements, including the coordination mechanism for nuclear emergency preparedness and response, the 11th ASEANTOM Annual Meeting will report on implementation achievements, discuss and exchange information and experiences, and identify future directions and action plans. This will enable the conventions and agreements to be implemented more effectively and improve their technical aspects to meet standards in developed countries in the region and worldwide.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Sourioudong Sundara, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, who, in his speech, expressed his gratitude to the delegates from each member country and external partners who had attended the 11th ASEANTOM Annual Meeting, further conveying that ASEANTOM has a mandate to improve nuclear safety and security at the regional level, promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, encourage member countries to share knowledge, expertise, and resources related to nuclear technology and safety, and strengthen the regulatory framework. In addition, Sundara conveyed the importance of supporting capacity development through training programs to improve the skills and knowledge of personnel and develop and implement strategies for regional cooperation in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency.

The activity continued with a speech by Elena Buglova, Director of Nuclear Safety and Security, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), via video recording. Buglova said that through the Practical Arrangement (PA) between the IAEA and ASEAN, various activities have been carried out with ASEAN member countries under the IAEA project in order to improve the capability of surveillance activities in each country as well as at the regional level to ensure safety and security against nuclear utilization, activities in the form of training, providing guidance on nuclear security, providing peer review and advisory services, encouraging the implementation of legal instruments both binding and non-binding. Furthermore, Buglova appreciated ASEANTOM, which has committed to continuing to increase its capacity in improving nuclear safety and security in the region.

In the country presentation session, the head of the Indonesian delegation, Haendra Subekti, said that Indonesia is committed to continuing to collaborate with all member countries and external partners through ASEANTOM. Indonesia will continue to support the implementation of the ASEANTOM 2023-2027 work plan, contributing to all member countries by sharing information and experiences regarding nuclear energy surveillance activities. In addition, Haendra Subekti said that Indonesia has been actively involved in ASEANTOM activities by providing real contributions and providing recommendations on the desired results in the future. Indonesia expressed its seriousness in further discussions with ASEANTOM member countries to draft the ASEAN Model Legislation (AML), which aims to assist ASEAN member countries in developing more comprehensive national laws on nuclear security and safeguards in accordance with their respective internal legal processes, so that each member country can easily define the responsibilities of the government, license holders/operators, supervisory authorities, other relevant government agencies, and private entities.

In the discussion session on the ASEANTOM issue, Indra Gunawan, co-lead of the Topical Working Group (TWG) for Public Communication Emergency, conveyed the scope of activities that can be carried out under this TWG, including 1) aligning crisis communications practices and messages among ASEAN Member States, 2) sharing best practices in crisis communications with ASEAN Member States, 3) building a network of public relations contacts in ASEAN for crisis communications, and 4) coordinating, organizing, and participating in trainings and exercises. In addition, Indra also conveyed future plans to prepare a sub-protocol for public information exchange and coordination to support the ASEAN Protocol for Preparedness and Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency that has been previously established. [BHKK/DeniRahmat/OR/Translator: GP]