24/9/2004
Annan Urges Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Ratification

In which world forum might we expect to find on the same side the United States and the Democratic Republic of Korea, Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India? The answer is they are all to be found on the list of twelve states that have still not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). This is still not in force despite the seven years that have passed since it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in a bid to bring to an end half a century of nuclear testing. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan this week urged those countries that have not yet signed or ratified the treaty to do so immediately so that it can take effect. The longer the Treaty's entry into force is delayed, the more likely that nuclear testing will resume, said Mr Annan.

So far 172 nations have signed the CTBT and 116 have ratified it, but it will not have force until all 44 States which have nuclear power or research reactors have ratified it. China, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, the United States and Viet Nam are the 12 states which have so far not ratified the Treaty.