06 April 1998

TEXT: U.S. HAILS FRENCH, BRITISH DEPOSIT OF CTBT INSTRUMENTS

(Clinton says test ban treaty furthers U.S. objectives) (350)



Washington -- President Clinton hailed the achievement of another
milestone in the global effort to achieve a nuclear test ban treaty
when France and Great Britain deposited their instruments of
ratification at the United Nations on April 6.


"I applaud this milestone in the global effort to reduce the nuclear
threat and build a safer world," the President said in a White House
statement. While thanking the leadership of those two countries for
"paving the way towards early entry into force" of the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), he also noted that France and Great
Britian are the first two nuclear weapon states to ratify the treaty.


Having asked the U.S. Senate to give its advice and consent to the
CTBT in 1998, Clinton said the treaty "is in the best interests of the
United States because its provisions will significantly further our
nuclear non-proliferation and arms control objectives and strengthen
international security."


Following is the text of the White House statement:



(begin text)



Today, France and Great Britain deposited their instruments of
ratification for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) with
the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York, thus becoming
the first nuclear weapon states to ratify the CTBT.


I applaud this milestone in the global effort to reduce the nuclear
threat and build a safer world. In particular, I want to thank Prime
Minister Blair and President Chirac and the parliaments of Great
Britain and France for their leadership in paving the way towards
early entry into force of this historic Treaty.


The CTBT has now been signed by 149 states, including all five nuclear
weapon states. In my State of the Union address, I asked the Senate to
give its advice and consent to the CTBT this year. The CTBT is in the
best interests of the United States because its provisions will
significantly further our nuclear non-proliferation and arms control
objectives and strengthen international security.


(end text)