Russia Seeks CTBT Early Entry Into Force

RIA Novosti, Alexander Yakovenko, PUBLISHED 09.10.2013

Russia is a strong advocate of the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which is to become an essential part of the international legal security system and an important link to the other nonproliferation and disarmament instruments. We strongly believe that it has the potential to become an important confidence building measure.

At present, 183 states have signed the Treaty and, as of April 9, 2012, 161 have ratified it. However, 17 years since the CTBT opened for signature, the prospects for a full-scale launch of the Treaty remain uncertain, which gives cause for serious concerns. We believe that special responsibility for the CTBT’s future lies with the remaining 8 states among the "List of 44," which have to ratify the Treaty in order for it to come into force. Russia urges these countries to join the CTBT as soon as possible and without preconditions.

All states that support the CTBT must doubtless continue their efforts to promote the Treaty and build up "positive mass" on the way to its universalization and early entry into force. Russia, for its part, is determined to continue to support the CTBT in international platforms – such as the UN, G8, the NPT review process, and regional and other security forums. We also actively champion the CTBT through our bilateral contacts. We support efforts by the CTBTO Preparatory Commission to establish a Treaty verification mechanism and actively participate in these deliberations, including on establishing International Monitoring System facilities in Russia. Today more that 70 percent of the Russian segment of the IMS has become operational.

We believe that signing and ratifying the CTBT should become an imperative for international relations as it will help strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime. It is within our reach to make our world safer. The CTBT will definitely be instrumental in achieving that goal.

Topics: Russia, Opinions

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