24 September 1998
(President expresses hope that India, Pakistan will sign) (450) Washington -- President Clinton expressed his hope in a September 24 White House statement that India and Pakistan will join the list of signatories of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. A list of those countries which have signed and/or ratified the CTBT may be viewed on the Web at: http://www.acda.gov/factshee/wmd/nuclear/ctbt/ctbtsigs.htm. Clinton also urged the U.S. Senate to give its advice and consent to the CTBT "as early as possible next year." By banning all nuclear weapons explosions, he said, the treaty "will constrain the development of more sophisticated and powerful nuclear weapons and give us a powerful new tool in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." Following is the text of the Clinton statement: (begin text) Two years ago today, I was proud to be the first world leader to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) -- first proposed by President Eisenhower over 40 years ago. Since then, 150 states have signed this historic treaty, including all of our NATO allies, Russia, China, Israel, Japan and South Korea. Twenty states already have ratified the CTBT including Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Brazil. It is my strong hope that India and Pakistan will join the list, and thereby reduce nuclear tensions in South Asia. I discussed this with Prime Minister Sharif on Monday (September 21) and I welcome his commitment yesterday (September 23) to adhere to the treaty by next fall. I look forward to further discussion with the leaders of Pakistan and India as we emphasize our common obligation to build peace and stability. Today (September 24) also marks the 35th anniversary of the Senate bipartisan vote, 80 to 19, to approve the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), which President Kennedy considered his greatest accomplishment as President. In 1963, Senate approval of the LTBT took place less than two months after it was signed and within seven weeks of its submission to the Senate. Contrast that with the CTBT. A year after it was submitted, the Senate has yet to take any action toward ratification. The CTBT will ban all nuclear weapons explosions. As a result, it will constrain the development of more sophisticated and powerful nuclear weapons and give us a powerful new tool in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The American people understand that Senate approval of the CTBT is the right thing to do. I strongly urge the Senate to give its advice and consent as early as possible next year. (end text)