Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization Addresses the Conference on Disarmament
The Conference on Disarmament this morning held its first plenary under the Presidency of Ambassador Salomon Eheth of Cameroon, hearing an address by Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization.
Ambassador Eheth said that, in accordance with the programme before the Conference, his presidency would be based on exchanges around the following three themes: the prevention of an arms race in outer space; effective international arrangements to safeguard non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of such weapons; and new types of weapons of mass destruction and new weapons systems of this type, radiological weapons. This plan implemented the draft package drawn up under the aegis of his predecessors. The approach to thematic debates may seem out of step with traditional negotiations. But the expression of the views of the various delegations in this august assembly was also a form of negotiation.
Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, said that regarding the current state of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, there were 185 signatories, out of which 170 had ratified the Treaty. With nearly 94 per cent of facilities installed, the international monitoring system, the backbone of the Treaty’s verification regime, was nearing completion.
Mr. Zerbo said that the response to the COVID-19 pandemic had shown a simple truth that could be applied to issues such as the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The international community needed to rely on science and promote diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty relied on science-based policymaking to achieve its verification objectives, as well as science diplomacy, trust, confidence-building, neutrality and partnering with all stakeholders on an equal footing. The Treaty’s entry into force would move the international community forward, closer to the goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
In the ensuing discussion, speakers called on all States possessing nuclear weapons to declare or maintain a zero-yield nuclear explosive testing moratorium. They urged States, notably those listed in annex II of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible. Speakers congratulated Lassina Zerbo for his significant legacy and stressed that the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons should foster testing moratoria and ratifications of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Just like there was no shortcut to a denuclearised world, there were no alternatives to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Speaking were Portugal (on behalf of the European Union), Turkey, United States, France, China, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Belgium, Austria, Republic of Korea, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico, Switzerland, Russian Federation and India.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea spoke in right of reply.
The Conference will next meet in public on Tuesday, 1 June at 10 a.m. to hold a thematic discussion on item 3 of its agenda: the prevention of an arms race in outer space.
Opening Remarks by the President of the Conference
Ambassador SALOMON EHETH of Cameroon, President of the Conference on Disarmament, thanking the previous presidencies, expressed hope that with the support and counsel of those present he would be able to continue serenely on the path traced out by his predecessors. COVID-19 had, more than ever, demonstrated that all of humanity was doomed to the same fate. In this globalised world, the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction was a common and ongoing concern.
Disarmament was a transversal and inclusive issue. If fear of collective death, or quite simply the end of the existence of human kind, were probabilities today, then the international community must constantly ask itself fundamentally existential questions: what was the value of technological advances if they continued to keep the world in fear? What was the point of all these arsenals that imprisoned the world and held it up in a dead-end rivalry?
In accordance with the programme before the Conference, his presidency would be based on exchanges around the following three themes: the prevention of an arms race in outer space; effective international arrangements to safeguard non-nuclear- weapon States against the use or threat of use of such weapons; and new types of weapons of mass destruction and new weapons systems of this type, radiological weapons.
This plan implemented the draft package drawn up under the aegis of his predecessors. The approach to thematic debates may seem out of step with traditional negotiations. But the expression of the views of the various delegations in this august assembly was also a form of negotiation. It was obvious to all that the top priority at this Conference was nuclear disarmament. The debates around the above-mentioned themes would make it possible to listen to the voices of all the regions of the world, and above all to listen to the deep call for peace which resided in all peoples.
Keynote Speaker
LASSINA ZERBO, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, said that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty had been negotiated in Geneva 25 years ago and had then been adopted by the General Assembly. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, like others, had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Organization had swiftly adapted and responded to the challenges at hand, thanks, notably, to the dedicated efforts of its staff, who had carried out their duties despite the difficulties related to the pandemic. This was a testament to the engagement of the State signatories. Active implementation of innovative online tools had allowed the Organization to maintain the efficiency of its training activities and even exceed previous levels of participation and expand its geographical reach. Regarding the current state of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Mr. Zerbo said there were 185 signatories, out of which 170 had ratified the Treaty. With nearly 94 per cent of facilities installed, the international monitoring system, the backbone of the Treaty’s verification regime, was nearing completion. The brand-new technology system and test centre in Austria served as a state of the art, enhanced source of data for scientific and civilian use, which was available to all signatories.
At the forthcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the States parties would face daunting obstacles. For many years, the lack of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty had been among the challenges they faced, until the international community decided to remedy the situation, 25 years ago. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic had shown the simple truth that could be applied to issues such as the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The international community needed to rely on science and promote diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty relied on science-based policymaking to achieve its verification objectives, as well as science diplomacy, trust, confidence-building, neutrality and partnering with all stakeholders on an equal footing. The Treaty’s entry into force would move the international community forward, closer to the goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
Discussion
Speakers said that, sadly, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty had not entered into force despite its significant contribution to confidence building and the reinforcement of international security. All States should refrain from taking any action that could undermine it. The Conference on Disarmament must consider technological developments moving forward at an unprecedented speed. The Conference could contribute to addressing the impact of today’s sweeping and rapid technological change on disarmament, and should not fall behind the fast-improving weapon technology. Speakers called on all States possessing nuclear weapons to declare or maintain a zero-yield nuclear explosive testing moratorium. They pointed out that Advanced Stockpile Stewardship tools enabled them to ensure a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent without requiring a return to nuclear explosive testing.
Speakers urged States, notably those countries listed in annex II of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, to ratify the Treaty as soon as possible. They congratulated Lassina Zerbo for his leadership and the significant legacy he would leave behind, and stressed that the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons should foster testing moratoria and ratifications of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Just like there was no shortcut to a denuclearised world, there were no alternatives to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Detection capacity should be enhanced to bolster verification. Even though the Treaty was yet to enter into force, the Organization’s global, high-tech network of monitoring stations had collected reliable and high-quality data, which was essential in verifying nuclear disarmament as well as in deterring non-compliance with the treaty.
While welcoming moratoria of nuclear testing, speakers stressed they were no substitute for ratifications and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty being in legal force. Stressing the importance of a gender inclusive approach to disarmament, speakers said States that had conducted testing owed a debt to the victims of explosions. Welcoming the election of Robert Floyd of Australia as the next Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, speakers drew attention to the effects of testing on the environment. It was troubling that two nuclear weapon States had yet to ratify the Treaty, despite their commitment to that effect. Welcoming its ratification by Cuba and Comoros, speakers emphasised that the Treaty’s entry into force would considerably bolster international security.
DC21.023E