Australian Foreign Minister The Hon Stephen Smith MP statement to the Conference on facilitating the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty on 25 September 2009.
(as delivered)
Conference Chairs, Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates.
Australia has a long and proud association with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. From its conception, Australia has regarded the Treaty as vital to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Australia played an active role in negotiating the Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament, and took the Treaty directly to the floor of the UN General Assembly, after negotiations in Geneva had faltered.
Australia was among the first States to sign and ratify the Treaty and from 2005 to 2007 was the Article XIV coordinator.
I was pleased to chair the Fourth Ministerial Meeting in support of CTBT entry into force at UNGA 63 last year.
Australia sees entry into force of the CTBT as a non-proliferation and disarmament priority.
Australia’s strong and consistent support for the Treaty is firmly grounded in the belief that it represents a highly effective means to constrain the increase and modernisation of nuclear weapons.
Thirteen years after the treaty was opened for signature and ratification however, nine of the 44 Annex 2 states, whose ratification is required for its entry into force, have still to ratify.
Australia welcomes President Obama’s commitment that the United States “will move forward with ratification of the [Comprehensive] Test Ban Treaty, and work with others to bring the Treaty into force so that nuclear testing is permanently prohibited.”
Ratification of the Treaty by the United States would be a profound step towards entry into force.
At the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that the United States is only one of nine remaining Annex 2, states all of whom bear an equal responsibility to bring about entry into force.
It is imperative that states yet to sign and ratify the treaty do so if we are to succeed in strengthening the non-proliferation regime and take concrete steps towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
Australia again calls upon those states yet to sign and ratify the treaty to join the growing consensus to enshrine voluntary bans on nuclear weapon testing, as a permanent and legally binding commitment.
In the lead-up to the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, additional signatures and ratifications of the CTBT can provide a potent message of support for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and may have a positive influence on the Conference’s outcome.
The Conference welcomed the decision yesterday of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to become the 150th nation to ratify the CTBT. This represents another step towards universal adherence to this vitally important treaty.
We have seen considerable progress over the last decade in the CTBT’s verification system. With more than 80 per cent of International Monitoring System stations up and running, and the successful completion of the first major on-site inspection exercise in 2008, much has been achieved.
Even before the system has been completed, it has demonstrated its ability to operate successfully, by clearly detecting the DPRK’s nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
But successes to date should not lead to complacency. The development of the global monitoring coverage as specified by the treaty must continue. Further stations need to be established as does the capability to conduct on-site inspections.
Australia calls upon all states to provide strong practical, financial and political support for the work of the Preparatory Commission.
For its part, Australia is pleased to be making a contribution. We are doing this as Chair of the Commission in 2009, as the host to 21 monitoring facilities, the third largest number of any state, and through our leading role in on-site inspections.
Australia commends the work of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission and the efforts of ratifiers to promote the entry into force of the treaty. Australia is pleased to continue to work with the Commission and others on this task.
Universalisation of the treaty remains our goal and one that we are optimistic about achieving.
We, the ratifiers, must redouble our efforts to convince all countries who have not yet done so to ratify the treaty.
The adoption of a strong and unanimous declaration during this Conference on facilitating the entry into force of the treaty should serve as an indication of that ongoing commitment.
Thank you.