photo (Foreign Minister Koumura)

Statement by Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Republic of Colombia

January 31, 2008

  1. On January 29 (Tue), the Republic of Colombia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to the United Nations.  As the Republic of Colombia is one of the 44 states whose ratifications are required for the entry into force of the Treaty, Japan highly values and welcomes Colombia’s ratification as an action to give impetus to international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.
     
  2. To facilitate the early entry-into-force of the Treaty, Japan has made active approaches to the non-ratified states, including Colombia, and I also presided over the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1999.  In late January this year, Japan invited Dr. Marta Lucia Ramirez, Chairperson of the Colombian Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and others concerned with the CTBT; they visited international monitoring facilities in Japan and exchanged views with relevant Japanese counterparts.  Japan regards Colombia’s ratification as a fruitful result of Japan’s tireless diplomatic efforts.
     
  3. Japan intends to continue to urge the remaining nine states, whose ratifications are required for the entry into force, to ratify the Treaty as early as possible following the Republic of Colombia’s decision, for the early entry-into-force of the Treaty, and Japan will also continuously make diplomatic efforts to further promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
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