21.04.2000 STATEMENT BY THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE RATIFICATION BY THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY ¹ 335

in connection with the ratification by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation by overwhelming vote adopted a federal law on the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CNTBT) on April 21.

The ratification of CNTBT by the State Duma is yet another confirmation of our country's consistent course of enhancing the regime of nuclear weapons nonproliferation, disarmament and strengthening strategic stability in the world.

The community of nations has traversed a long path to achieve a comprehensive ban on nuclear tests. The road from the Moscow Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Tests in Three Environments of 1963 to CNTBT took almost 40 years.

Along with the recent ratification by both chambers of Russia's Federal Assembly of the START-2 treaty our country, as a great nuclear power, by ratifying CNTBT demonstrates its responsibility to the entire world community and its adherence to its commitments in the field of strengthening strategic stability, arms reduction and disarmament, including within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. On the eve of the opening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference it is necessary to particularly stress the role of CNTBT as a key factor of strengthening the regime of nuclear weapons nonproliferation.

We are convinced that the speediest entry into force of CNTBT and the imparting to it of a universal nature is equally in the national interests of Russia and the whole of mankind. In conditions of a comprehensive ban on nuclear tests and the accession to it of all states with a potential to develop nuclear weapons an insurmountable barrier will be erected to any attempts to spread or qualitatively improve nuclear weapons.

We again urge all countries that have not yet signed or ratified the CNTBT to do it as quickly as possible so that the aims proclaimed by it would become a reality already in the near future.