At the sixth ministerial meeting in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), on 27 September, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the States that have not yet signed the Treaty to do so without delay.
He stressed that the entry into force of the CTBT, banning all nuclear tests, everywhere and by everyone, would be a milestone in advancing the cause of nuclear disarmament.
Out of a total listed number of 195 States, 183 have so far signed the treaty and 157 have ratified it. Mr. Ban specifically called on those States whose ratification is required for the treaty to enter into force (i.e. China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States), to ratify the CTBT.
The EU perspective
In his statement on behalf of the European Union, H.E. Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, highlighted that all EU Member States have ratified the Treaty, and that they remain politically and financially committed to achieving its entry into force and universalisation.
He assured that “the EU will continue to actively work with the CTBTO, as well as bilaterally and multilaterally together with all States Parties to the Treaty, to stimulate more positive developments”.
Furthermore, the EU has provided the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) with more than 10 million EUR and is one of the biggest contributors to its International Monitoring System. “We are working on a significant additional financial support to the Organisation, to be adopted by the EU Council before the end of this year”, he added.
Sources: UN News Centre and European Union @ United Nations website
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