Mr. President,

We warmly congratulate you and other members of the bureau on your election to steer the work of this Second Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).  We assure you of Lesotho’s support and wish you success in your efforts at this important gathering.

Mr. President,

This meeting could not have taken place at a more appropriate venue and at a more opportune moment; a time when the architecture of strategic stability has deteriorated as a result of failure to make progress on some of the critical nuclear arms control and disarmament issues. Despite the ever growing global chorus of alarm and resentment against attempts to set back nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation policies and to create new incentives for missile proliferation, the fight against the spread of nuclear weapons and the threat posed by their proliferation is yet to be won.

We are thus gathered here once again, as we did in Vienna in 1999, to reiterate our commitment to the CTBT and to take the necessary measures for the achievement of the cherished goal of CTBT entry into force.  We are gathered here today to further advance a process, which we began five years ago in these same premises, when the CTBT was opened for signature.  On that auspicious occasion, a record number of 71 countries immediately signed the Treaty.

That overwhelming show of support was a clear testimony of the international community’s resolve to bring an end to all nuclear weapons test explosions by constraining the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons. Our gathering here today is yet another testimony of our believe that the CTBT remains an important barrier to weapons development and proliferation and that it is an important step in the process of nuclear weapons elimination.

Mr. President,

We all remain convinced that the CTBT is an effective measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects. As the Treaty’s preamble states, the primary objective is to effectively contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of nuclear disarmament. For us, the Treaty is vital not only to the security of nations, but more importantly, to international peace and security. We do realize that the emerging international norm against nuclear explosives testing as well as the goal of complete nuclear test ban require strong support by States of the CTBT and the Preparatory Commission. This meeting should thus reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty’s basic obligations and to our undertaking to refrain from acts, which would defeat the objects and purposes of the Treaty pending its entry into force.

Mr. President,

While tangible progress is yet to be made on nuclear arms control and disarmament measures that are essential to carry the conditions for a sustained and effective program of action to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons, support for the CTBT has continued unabated over the years since the last Entry into Force Meeting. Not only has there been an increase in the number of signatures and ratification, but the importance and urgency of the CTBT signature and ratification has been stressed during the landmark 2000 NPT Review Conference. The General Assembly in its Res. 55/33R entitled “ A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons” called for the entry into force of the CTBT by 2003.  Cooperation between the CTBTO and the UN has no doubt been enhanced by the annual debate in the GA on relations between the two Organizations. We have to build on the momentum created by these and other important developments.

Similarly, the CTBTO Preparatory Commission has also made good progress in its primary operational responsibility of establishing the Treaty verification regime. We should support and encourage the CTBTO to continue its efforts to ensure that the Treaty’s verification regime shall be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty at entry into force.  While we applaud this progress, we should also remember how far we still have to go before the Treaty’s verification regime can be fully implemented.
In this regard, we note that 11 of the 44 Annex II nuclear capable states needed for entry into force are yet to ratify the Treaty. We call on these States to expedite their ratification processes so that entry into force is not delayed beyond 2003 as called for in UNGA Res. 55/33R.

Mr. President,

Without entry into force, it will not be possible to fully implement the noble verification regime envisaged in the Treaty; hence the deterrent effect of the Treaty will not have its full impact. That is why we should remain deeply concerned about the prospects for the Treaty’s entry into force. This should continue to be particularly worrying because even though two of the States whose ratification is needed for the Treaty’s entry into force had expressed their willingness not to delay the entry into force, they are yet to ratify the Treaty. Equally disturbing is the fact that one State whose ratification is needed for entry into force is yet to make a commitment to the Treaty. Let us therefore take the opportunity offered by this Conference to encourage all States, in particular those whose ratification is needed for the Treaty’s entry into force, to take all possible measures to ensure that the CTBT will enter into force as soon as possible.

Mr. President,

The delay in ratification and entry into force can only benefit all those who oppose the elimination of nuclear weapons and those who pursue their acquisition. On the other hand, its rapid implementation is necessary for ending the continued threat posed by nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation. This calls for a renewed focus and energy for ratification and implementation of the CTBT.

 A measure of our success in this Conference will be a renewal of our firm commitment to work with renewed vigor for universal ratification of the CTBT and its early entry into force.  To this end, we should not only stress the need for national implementation measures, treaty signature and ratification but we must once again select a high representative to continue informal consultations with all interested countries with a view to promoting cooperation to facilitate entry into force.

Technical and financial resources remain indispensable for developing countries to enjoy the benefits of the data, products and services that are becoming available through the data center.  Special attention should thus continue to be given to the training needs of developing countries. Financial assistance should also be made available for developing countries to meet their financial obligations.

Lesotho remains fully committed to playing its part in fulfillment of its obligations under the CTBT and counts on the support and cooperation of all States in its endeavors.
 

Sources

• http://www.un.org/webcast/ctbt/statements/lesothoE.htm