UN chief calls for ratification of nuclear test ban treaty


Eight states that need to sign and ratify a nuclear test ban treaty for it to come into force have been urged by the UN Secretary-General to urgently do so.

Ban Ki-moon spoke at a ministerial meeting of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty or CTBT held at UN headquarters in New York on Friday afternoon.

Mr. Ban called on the international community to do everything possible to secure the entry into force of the CTBT for the sake of humanity.

"This treaty bans all nuclear tests, constrains the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons, and contributes to progress on nuclear disarmament. The CTBT also helps protect our environment against harmful radioactive by-products of nuclear tests. But we must secure the ratifications necessary for entry into force. I call for urgent ratification by the eight remaining Annex 2 States."

Those eight states are North Korea, India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States.

Annex 2 lists 44 countries that are members of the Conference on Disarmament with nuclear power and/or research reactors.

SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.