Is the implementation of CTBT getting any nearer?

September 16, 2016

5 nuclear powers agree to work for CTBT

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160916_19/

Five nuclear powers have agreed to work for the early implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, known as CTBT.

Representatives of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France released a joint statement after 2 days of talks ended on Thursday in Washington.

In the statement, the 5 countries pledged to strive to ratify the CTBT. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing moratorium on nuclear explosive testing.

The CTBT was adopted by the UN General Assembly 20 years ago. But it has yet to take effect, as nuclear-armed countries such as the US and China have not ratified it.

It is unlikely that the US will ratify the treaty anytime soon due to strong opposition from the Republican Party.

In a bid to break the impasse, the administration of President Barack Obama has submitted to the UN Security Council a draft resolution calling on member states to refrain from carrying out nuclear tests.

After the disarmament talks, US Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller said the draft resolution is aimed at highlighting the need to maintain momentum for bringing the CTBT into force.

The US-sponsored draft resolution will be put to a vote in the Security Council as early as next week.