• Register Email Updates

• Advanced Search
• Help

The Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
(Overview and Evaluation)

20 September 2007

From 17 September to 18 September, the Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was held in Vienna, Austria at the former imperial palace Hofburg.

I. Overview

1. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which was adopted and opened for signature in the year 1996, has now been signed by 177 states and ratified by 140. However, it has yet to be ratified by 10 (the United States, the People's Republic of China, India, Pakistan, Israel, the DPRK, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, and Colombia*) of the Annex 2 States whose ratification is required for its entry into force. During the past two years since the previous Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, one nation has signed the treaty and an additional 15 states have ratified it including Vietnam (which is one of the Annex 2 States).

   *Note: India, Pakistan and the DPRK have yet to sign the CTBT.

2. A total of 106 Ratifiers and Signatories (including representation at the Foreign Minister Level by four states) attended this meeting which was held to promote the entry into force of the Treaty under the current circumstances. The conference was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik of Austria and Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno Ugarte of Costa Rica, and from Japan Senior-Vice Foreign Minister Hitoshi Kimura attended to represent the Government of Japan. The United States, India and the DPRK did not participate.
3. In his statement at the conference Senior-Vice Foreign Minister Kimura stated that Japan as the only state to have ever experienced the devastation of nuclear bombing, attaches great importance to the earliest possible entry into force of the CTBT, that Japan urges speedy signing and ratification of the treaty by all states that have not yet signed and ratified the treaty, including the 10 Annex 2 States, and that Japan again strongly criticizes a nuclear test proclaimed by the DPRK in October 2006 and strongly calls for the expeditious implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718. He also introduced the approach Japan has taken to facilitate the entry into force of the CTBT and the establishment of a verification regime.
4. China stated that it supports the objectives of the CTBT and maintains the moratorium on nuclear testing, and that the treaty had already been submitted to the National People's Congress in China for its review.
5. Many delegations referred to the issue of the nuclear testing proclaimed by the DPRK in their statements. In particular, they stated that a nuclear test proclaimed by the DPRK demonstrates an even greater need for the early entry into force of the CTBT and for the establishment of a verification regime.
6. On 18 September, the closing day of the conference, a Final Declaration [PDF] was adopted by consensus. An outline of the Final Declaration is as follows.
   • (a) All states that have not yet done so, in particular the 10 Annex 2 States, should sign or ratify the treaty without delay
   • (b) The moratorium on nuclear testing should be maintained
   • (c) With regard to the nuclear testing announced by the DPRK, reference was made to the resolution adopted in last year's United Nations General Assembly related to the CTBT. The need for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issues was stressed through successful implementation of the Joint Statement and Initial Actions agreed upon in the framework of the Six-Party Talks. The nuclear test event highlighted the urgent need for early entry into force of the CTBT and the completion of the CTBT verification regime
   • (d) The necessity to establish the verification regime for the CTBT was stressed

II. Evaluation

1. Given the current situation in which the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime founded on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) faces serious challenges, the fact that the final declaration [PDF] was adopted by consensus with recognition of the importance for the CTBT Ratifiers and Signatories to ensure the entry into force of the CTBT without delay and to maintain the moratorium on nuclear testing, is indeed deeply significant as one political message issued forth by the international community to indicate the prohibition of nuclear testing as the top priority item in ongoing efforts in the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Furthermore, the fact that Senior-Vice Foreign Minister Kimura attended this meeting and represented the Government of Japan at a high level to deliver a statement was a proactive demonstration of the consistent efforts by Japan to facilitate the early entry into force of the CTBT which was well enforced both within Japan and in the international community. (The Japanese media carried articles on this matter.)
2. However, in light of the prevailing situation in which the above mentioned 10 Annex 2 States have yet to ratify the treaty, the outlook for early entry into force of the CTBT remains difficult. Steady efforts must continue toward ensuring that the CTBT enters into force.
3. Japan also for its part must continue to proactively make efforts to contribute to the establishment of the verification regime.
4. The importance of providing data from the verification system for the use of Tsunami warning was reaffirmed. We note that promoting the benefits of the treaty for the scientific and civil use would heighten the incentives for ratification of the treaty and, therefore, it would be desirable to continue to proactively promote it.

(Open a New Window)