UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 55th SESSION

Plenary - Item 177: Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation

Statement by H.E. Mr Les Luck Ambassador for Disarmament and Permanent Representative

30 October 2000

Mr President

Allow me, through you, to extend my delegation's appreciation to the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization - Dr Wolfgang Hoffmann - for the report on the activities of the Preparatory Commission during 1999. We welcome the contribution this Plenary item makes to a better understanding of the CTBT among all States.

Mr President

Completion of the CTBT negotiations in September 1996 fulfilled a key objective identified by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference Principles and Objectives as important to the full realisation and effective implementation of Article VI of the NPT.

While it is disappointing that the CTBT is not formally yet in force, it is in provisional operation and that is to be welcomed. With 160 signatories and 66 ratifications, and a growing verification infrastructure, the treaty is firmly established as a powerful international norm against further nuclear testing.

Australia, which played a major role in bringing the Treaty to the United Nations General Assembly in 1996, will continue to work actively with other countries to secure early entry into force of the Treaty. We recently made a further round of diplomatic representations to Asia-Pacific countries and countries in the group of 44 whose ratification is required for entry into force. Australia is also active in the Vienna process to organise a second CTBT Article XIV conference on facilitating the Treaty's entry into force. We were pleased to take the lead in introducing this year's CTBT resolution under consideration in the First Committee.

Progress with signatures and ratifications has made an important contribution to maintaining the strength and momentum of the Treaty. A further key factor has been the successful establishment of the CTBTO's Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) and its Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) in Vienna.

We should be in no doubt that the establishment of the CTBTO PrepCom was a landmark achievement for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The setting up of the PrepCom and the significant financial investment inherent in its work send a powerful message to those still outside the CTBT that the global non-testing norm is here to stay.

The Treaty's International Monitoring System (IMS) is a major effort for the international community. When completed it will consist of 170 seismological, 60 infrasound, 11 hydroacoustic and 80 radionuclide stations - supported by 16 radionuclide laboratories. A Global Communications Infrastructure and an International Data Centre in Vienna will complete the IMS. Countries will also be establishing their own national data centres to enable them to reach conclusions about international compliance with the test-ban. Obviously, this system requires a significant investment. But it is an investment fully justified by the security benefit of assurance of detection of-nuclear test explosions anywhere in the world.

We welcome the good progress made by the CTBTO PrepCom and the PTS on establishing the IMS, and we look forward to further development of this and other aspects of CTBT verification.