Secretary of State calls for CTBT, says we need it 'now more than ever'
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke at an event sponsored by the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington today, marking the 35th anniversary of President Kennedy’s call for an end to nuclear testing. President Kennedy’s speech led to a partial ban on nuclear testing, which was quickly negotiated and ratified. Secretary Albright today called that effort, “a downpayment on the comprehensive treaty whose approval we now seek.” Excerpts from Secretary Albright’s speech include: “Efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons do not come with a guarantee. But to abandon them because they have been dealt a setback would be a felony against the future. And there are steps we can take to regain the momentum we have lost. “Step one is to gain Senate approval of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. For despite the South Asia tests, the CTBT remains essential to our strategy to reduce the nuclear danger.		“This Treaty has been a goal of U.S. Presidents since Dwight Eisenhower and John Kennedy. If approved and enforced, it will arrest both the development and the spread of new and more dangerous weapons. It has been widely endorsed by our military and scientific leaders. And it has consistently commanded the support of no less than 70 percent of the American people. “Now more than ever, the CTBT is relevant to American security and world peace. “Now more than ever, we need to get the Treaty’s monitoring and detection system up and running. “Now more than ever, we need to declare that testing is not smart, not safe, not right and not legal. “Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate that the world has entered a new era, in which the greatness of nations is measured not by how much they can destroy, but by how much they can build.

“Now more than ever, we need to declare that testing is not smart, not safe, not right and not legal. ...I urge Senator Helms to bring the CTBT before his Committee. Examine it on the merits. And if the Chairman wants me to testify, all he has to do is say the word and I’ll be there.”

“So I ask the Senate, as the President has asked the Senate, ‘Do not stall, do not delay, approve the CTBT.’ On this critical measure, at this perilous time, American leadership should be unambiguous, decisive and strong. “In particular, I urge Senator Helms to bring the CTBT before his Committee. Examine it on the merits. And if the Chairman wants me to testify, all he has to do is say the word and I’ll be there.”