Opening of the Conference by Secretary-General of the United Nations -
Kofi Annan
New York, 11 November 2001 - Opening remarks to the Conference on
Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
(CTBT)
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you all
for coming to this Conference, which I have convened at the request of a
majority of the 84 States that have already ratified the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
If anyone
thinks that that Treaty, or this Conference, have been overshadowed or
marginalized by the events of 11 September and their aftermath, I hope they
will think again.
Those events
should have made it clear to everyone that we cannot afford further
proliferation of nuclear weapons. Nor can we afford to lose momentum in efforts
to eliminate nuclear weapons from the world's arsenals. We must do everything
we can to reduce the risk of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists.
This Treaty is
a crucial element in the non-proliferation regime. The longer we delay its
entry into force, the greater the risk that nuclear testing will resume -- and
that in turn would make non-proliferation much harder to sustain.
As you know,
the Treaty names 44 States whose ratification is required for it to enter into
force. Thirty-one of those have ratified it so far. The main purpose of this
Conference is to find ways of encouraging the remaining States to sign and
ratify the Treaty, in particular those 13 needed for it to enter into force.
Why should this
be so difficult?
Many of those
States have for years voiced their support for global nuclear disarmament.
Many of them
are States which themselves worked long and hard to conclude the Treaty.
Now it is within
their power to bring it into force.
I implore them
to do so, and I urge all of you to focus on finding arguments, and taking
steps, that will allay the doubts still felt in those States.
Dear friends,
We have a
precious but fleeting opportunity to render this troubled world a safer place,
free of the threat of nuclear weapons. We must not let it pass.
Thank you very
much.
*****
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