News

USIS Washington 
File

24 September 1998

TEXT: CLINTON STATEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

(President expresses hope that India, Pakistan will sign) (450)



Washington -- President Clinton expressed his hope in a September 24
White House statement that India and Pakistan will join the list of
signatories of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.


A list of those countries which have signed and/or ratified the CTBT
may be viewed on the Web at:
http://www.acda.gov/factshee/wmd/nuclear/ctbt/ctbtsigs.htm.


Clinton also urged the U.S. Senate to give its advice and consent to
the CTBT "as early as possible next year."


By banning all nuclear weapons explosions, he said, the treaty "will
constrain the development of more sophisticated and powerful nuclear
weapons and give us a powerful new tool in the fight against the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."


Following is the text of the Clinton statement:



(begin text)



Two years ago today, I was proud to be the first world leader to sign
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) -- first proposed by
President Eisenhower over 40 years ago. Since then, 150 states have
signed this historic treaty, including all of our NATO allies, Russia,
China, Israel, Japan and South Korea. Twenty states already have
ratified the CTBT including Britain, France, Germany, Australia and
Brazil. It is my strong hope that India and Pakistan will join the
list, and thereby reduce nuclear tensions in South Asia. I discussed
this with Prime Minister Sharif on Monday (September 21) and I welcome
his commitment yesterday (September 23) to adhere to the treaty by
next fall. I look forward to further discussion with the leaders of
Pakistan and India as we emphasize our common obligation to build
peace and stability.


Today (September 24) also marks the 35th anniversary of the Senate
bipartisan vote, 80 to 19, to approve the Limited Test Ban Treaty
(LTBT), which President Kennedy considered his greatest accomplishment
as President. In 1963, Senate approval of the LTBT took place less
than two months after it was signed and within seven weeks of its
submission to the Senate. Contrast that with the CTBT. A year after it
was submitted, the Senate has yet to take any action toward
ratification.


The CTBT will ban all nuclear weapons explosions. As a result, it will
constrain the development of more sophisticated and powerful nuclear
weapons and give us a powerful new tool in the fight against the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The American people
understand that Senate approval of the CTBT is the right thing to do.
I strongly urge the Senate to give its advice and consent as early as
possible next year.


(end text)