First Day of Article XIV Conference Shows Optimism

The Article XIV Conference commenced on the morning of Thursday 24 September 2009 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference was opened by the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Sergio Duarte, followed by brief statements from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, co-presidents of the conference French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner and Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs Taib Fassi Fihri, and United Nations Messenger for Peace Michael Douglas. Secretary-General Ban emphasized that the CTBT represented an essential building block for a world free of nuclear weapons, urged states that had yet to ratify the Treaty to realize that the time is now to act, and instead of waiting for leadership from others, to show their own. Mr. Douglas asserted that a compass point was now set for nuclear disarmament and states must evaluate their strategic policies accordingly. Douglas also noted that the CTBT is a 21st century tool and that hold out states subscribed to an antiquated world view that no longer reflects current realities.

The conference quickly moved through procedural issues and adopted a Final Declaration and Measures to Promote the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which had been negotiated by member states earlier in Vienna, Austria. As planned, the conference then broke for the United Nations Security Council summit on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, chaired by U.S. President Barack Obama and attended by heads of state from the other 14 Security Council members.

President Obama, flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, managed to secure the unanimous adoption of the U.S. resolution on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament at the outset of the special Security Council summit. Following the Security Council's adoption of the resolution and interventions from several heads of state, Secretary of State Clinton made her way down to the CTBTO Article XIV Conference in order to deliver the U.S. national statement.

Secretary of State Clinton was the first to deliver a national statement during the general exchange of views at the conference. Clinton declared that the United States was happy to be back, after a roughly ten year absence from these biannual conferences. Secretary Clinton, among other pronouncements, reaffirmed the Obama administration's commitment to move forward with U.S. CTBT ratification, and pledged to pay the U.S. share of assessed contributions to the CTBTO, which had gone into arrears on several occasions during the previous administration. Some participants rose to their feet to applaud following the Secretary's statement, highlighting the significance of the new U.S. commitment to the Treaty.

While addressing the conference, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Tibor Tóth stated that the conference and the Security Council summit attest to the fact that the CTBT is once again at the top of the international arms control agenda. Tóth also remarked that now is the moment of truth, and the moment for action. Tóth declared it is time for leaders to lead us on the "last mile of our long journey and to our final destination; the entry into force of our Treaty." Ambassador Jaap Ramaker of the Netherlands, who had been serving as Special Representative to promote the ratification process of the CTBT, announced that he was stepping down from his role and stated that powerful political forces must now throw their weight behind the Treaty; the ball is fully in the court of the politicians. The Canadian delegation echoed this sentiment, stating that political will is now the most significant aspect of a country's decision to ratify the Treaty.

There were several themes that arose consistently throughout the first day of the conference. The continued stalemate in efforts to bring the Six-Party Talks back on track, along with the DPRK's recent nuclear test and continued violations of Security Council resolutions, was referenced frequently by delegates. Another issue that attracted attention was the determination that the various unilateral moratoria on nuclear testing were welcome, but could in no way substitute for a legally binding prohibition on nuclear explosive testing. Nonetheless, the atmosphere during the first day of the conference was genuinely spirited, particularly due to the successful Security Council meeting and unanimous adoption of the U.S. resolution. Reasons for optimism at the conference also include the noticeably improved political environment during the 2009 NPT Preparatory Committee, the adoption of a program of work at the Conference on Disarmament earlier in the year, and the renewed U.S. commitment to the Treaty and President Obama's leadership on the international arms control agenda. The CTBTO was also commended for its success in building up the International Monitoring System and other components of the verification regime.