Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary General,

Heads of Delegations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first, Mr. President, congratulate you on your election to this responsible, demanding function and to wish you a successful, effective chairmanship.

At the outset, I would like to join the previous speakers in expressing my sincere condolences to the Government of the United States and to the families of the victims of the horrible terrorist attacks on the United States on 11 September.

I wish to express the determination and readiness of the Government of the Republic of Poland to work together with the international community to prevent all such terrorist attacks that constitute a threat to international peace and security.

The 11 September attacks confirm and reinforce the need to enhance and strengthen security and protective measures in the management of international and national nuclear programs. Therefore we hope that this Conference will recognize the need to complement international co-operation in the nuclear sphere with means that are commensurate to the new threats and dangers.

Mr. President,

It has been five years now since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature. Since the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted it in 1996 and since then signed by 161 States, we were entitled to certain optimism concerning its early entry into force. Unfortunately that is not the case. The Treaty requires ratification by all 44 States listed in Annex 2 and to date only 31 of them have deposited the instruments of ratification. Poland considers this number as progress towards the 1999 Conference goals, but unfortunately; it is not enough to have the Treaty operational.

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

There should be no doubt concerning the significance of the Treaty and its positive implications on international security in both regional and global dimensions and on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Let me point out some of the most obvious advantages of the CTBT:
 

• Though not yet in force, it has started partially functioning as it commits Signatory States to refrain from nuclear testing during the ratification period. This commitment arises from the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which says that all States, which sign a treaty, must not act in a manner inconsistent with its objective and purpose.

• Prohibition of any nuclear testing, including for peaceful purposes, would prevent or to a great extent limit qualitative improvement of existing weapons, and thus be conducive to progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

• Abandoning nuclear testing will undoubtedly have a positive influence on the environment, particularly in regions adjacent to test sites.

• An international Monitoring System enforced by on-site inspections and national technical means of verification will not only deter possible violations but will also offer the participating States concrete benefits of the application of verification technologies for peaceful purposes.

Mr. President,

Poland has always recognized the sensitivity of the nuclear subject matter we deal with, and the importance of nuclear non-proliferation.

The VI NPT Review Conference, which took place here in this room a year ago, delivered a clear and unanimous message to the world concerning the entry into force of the CTBT. The Conference, in two important paragraphs of the Final Document adopted by consensus, urged the States to sign and ratify the CTBT without delay and without conditions. We believe that- the results of the NPT RevCom 2000 have given a new impetus to the ratification process of the CTBT and we are convinced the process will be continued and even accelerated.

We believe that both treaties, the NPT and CTBT, would create new comprehensive and mutually complementary pillars of a nuclear non-proliferation environment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Poland has been aware of all the above-mentioned advantages offered by the CTBT's provisions and attaches great importance to this Treaty.

Poland fully supports efforts by the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO and its Provisional Technical Secretariat to ensure the functioning of the Treaty and its global verification system at its entry into force. We appreciate the progress made in this field.

Poland's position is, that to be effective a ban on nuclear test explosions should be universal.

Poland notes with satisfaction the increased number of CTBT ratifications, which reinforces the momentum and brings us closer and closer to the success of the next Article XVI Conference. Therefore, Poland calls upon States, which have not done so to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay.

This Conference should deliver to the world a clear message to take all necessary political and diplomatic steps to invigorate the process of entering the Treaty onto force.

Mr. President,

Poland associates itself with the European Union's declaration presented at the Conference.

We fully support the draft Declaration of this Conference and shall spare no efforts to achieve an early entry into force of this Treaty.

May I express my Government's deep conviction that no necessity will arise to call any more conferences of this kind, and that the next anniversary of the opening of the Treaty for signature will be an occasion for celebrations, not for concerns. Bringing the CTBT into force should be placed high on the list of priorities of all Governments.
 

Sources

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