14 October 1999


 
Text: Statement on CTBT by Spokesman for UN Secretary General Oct. 14
 
(Annan reaffirms importance of a comprehensive test ban treaty) (300)

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's spokesman said October 14 that Annan
had "learned with regret of the negative vote of the Senate of the
United States of America on the ratification of the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty."

The spokesman pointed out that participants in the Conference for
Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT in Vienna, Austria had
issued a Declaration October 8 "reaffirming the importance of a
universal and internationally and effectively verifiable" CTBT.

"The Secretary General reaffirms this goal," the spokesman said, "in
view of its importance in maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation
regime and progress towards nuclear disarmament."

Following is the UN text:

(begin text)

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General has learned with regret of the negative vote of
the Senate of the United States of America on the ratification of the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty.

Both as Secretary-General of the United Nations, and in his capacity
as Depositary of the Treaty, he has consistently appealed to member
States who have not done so to sign and ratify the Treaty in order
that this important norm against nuclear proliferation and the further
development of nuclear weapons should enter into force and become part
of international law.

Participants in the Conference for Facilitating the Entry into Force
of the CTBT issued a Declaration in Vienna on 8 October reaffirming
the importance of a universal and internationally and effectively
verifiable comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty.

The Secretary-General reaffirms this goal in view of its importance in
maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime and progress towards
nuclear disarmament.

New York, 14 October 1999

(end text)