Mr. President,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, let me join previous speakers in congratulating you on your election as President of this Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. Your skilful leadership is especially important at this crucial juncture in the history of the Organisation. Let me ensure you of the full support and co-operation of my delegation. I would also like to extend our thanks to Ambassador Olga Pellicer of Mexico and Ambassador Nobuyasu Abe of Japan for the preparatory work carried out by them and their delegations during the past year.

We are most appreciative of the introductory statement made to the Conference by the H.E. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, and by H.E. Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, Mr. Wolfgang Hoffmann, as well as of the preparatory work done by the Provisional Technical Secretariat in Vienna.

I would also like to express deep condolences that people of Croatia feel for victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and their families. I wish to extend our sympathy to all those who have suffered from this unbelievable tragedy.

Mr. President,

I am very pleased to join the conference, which is devoted to the global peace and security. As Deputy Secretary-General, Madame Frechetette, said at the beginning of the 1999 Conference “There are few treaties with so immediate a gain, so universal an appeal, and so lasting a utility” as this Treaty.

In September of 1996, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, with an overwhelming majority, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty after long and laborious negotiations. This was a historic achievement; outcome of, which was a treaty that prohibits all nuclear weapon test explosions once and for all, including, so called peaceful explosions. The “fathers” of the Treaty envisaged that it would make a significant contribution towards the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. A crucial element of the CTBT is its effective verification mechanism, including a monitoring system with global coverage. Its ultimate aim is to eliminate nuclear weapons.

Mr. President,

The Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission is capable of providing data and services to member states. Full establishment of the verification system is under way, and should be finished in timely and effective manner and in accordance with the Treaty. All countries should participate in the setting up of the International Monitoring System.

We would like to use this opportunity to express our appreciation for the work of the Provisional Technical Secretariat under the leadership of Ambassador Wolfgang Hoffmann, the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat. We would also like to encourage all states signatories to participate in the ongoing work conducted by the Preparatory Commission.

Today, we are encouraged with a fact that 161 state have signed the Treaty and 79 have deposited their instruments of ratification with the UN Secretary-General. Croatia is one of the countries that have recently ratified the Treaty. The number of ratifications and signatures achieved since 1999 Conference clearly shows progress. It is important to notice that 31 state of Annex II states have ratified the Treaty.

However, none of the aims of the Treaty will be achieved until the Treaty becomes universal, and enters into force. As we see it now, the prospects of an early entry into force of the CTBT, we have to admit, are far from promising. This Conference turned out to be carried in environment different than any of us could have expected. Hideous terrorist attacks that were carried out in this city, and in Washington D.C., proved to be the worst in history. We expected that this conference would be turning point for early entry into force of the Treaty. We are now convinced that we all have to work together to make this Treaty work, because threat of terrorism is haunting the world. Threat of nuclear terrorism, which could became reality in the future, could end the world. We should all unite, developed and developing countries, and try to work together towards the successful conclusion of the task that made us gather here, and try to make possible all the ratifications that are necessary for early entry into force of the Treaty. As the world is decisively uniting into anti-terrorist coalition, the non-proliferation and an end of nuclear testing should be a part of this effort. This could be our contribution to the better and safer world.

Croatia is a small country, that has recently came out of horrors of war. We understand how disastrous could be the use of any weapons, nuclear or conventional. We do not have any nuclear weapons on our territory, nor have prospect or wish to involve into any nuclear testing. Nevertheless, we are concerned with the prospects of the stalemate in the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation process. We believe that all countries, regardless of their political or economic might, should join CTBT, for the sake of our common future. We are particularly concerned with the sorrow reality that the new round of nuclear race is taking place in developing countries. Money spent on development of nuclear weapons could have been better spent on economic growth and environmental protection.

We believe that we have gathered here to show to the world the importance we attach to the universal adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. This conference represents crossroads in strengthening of global non-proliferation policy. Our message should reach not only those who have signed and ratified the Treaty, but also those who did not sign, or who stopped half way, signing but not ratifying. Republic of Croatia calls on all states, which have not yet done so to sign and/or ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, without delay. We urge all participants of this conference to contribute to a successful outcome of this Conference, and to open a real perspective for an early entry into force of the Treaty.

Mr. President,

The CTBT provides us with opportunity to ban all nuclear weapon test explosions forever, and to add momentum to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. It provides us with the opportunity to enhance both regional and international confidence, stability and peace. We should work together to fulfil this noble task. But we should unite here and now. If we loose momentum, tomorrow could be too late.

I thank you Mr. President.
 
 
 

Source

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