Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

EIF Conference Report and Final Declaration


CONFERENCE ON FACILITATING THE ENTRY INTO FORCE

OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY

Original: ENGLISH
Vienna, 6 to 8 October 1999

Distr. GENERAL

CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/5

REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE

1. INTRODUCTION

1. The Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (hereinafter "the Treaty) (Vienna, 1999), convened pursuant to Article XIV of the Treaty, was opened on 6 October 1999 by the Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations.

2. The following 92 States that had already deposited their instruments of ratification of the Treaty before the opening of the Conference and States Signatories, which had not yet deposited their instruments of ratification before the opening of the Conference, participated in the Conference: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Sao Tom6 and Principe, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia.

3. In conformity with rule 40 of the rules of procedure, the following other States attended the Conference: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe.

4. In accordance with rule 41 of the rules of procedure, the following specialized agencies, related organizations and intergovernmental organizations attended the Conference: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, European Commission and International Atomic Energy Agency.

5. In accordance with rule 43 of the rules of procedure, 13 non-governmental organizations attended the Conference

6. A list of the delegations to the Conference, including participating States, other States, specialized agencies, related organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, is contained in document CTBT-Art.XIV/1 999/INF.2/Rev. 1.

II. ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL DECISIONS

7. At the first plenary meeting, on 6 October 1999, the Conference elected, by acclamation, as President of the Conference, His Excellency Mr. Masahiko Koumura, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

8. At the same meeting, the Conference adopted the rules of procedure for the Conference as contained in document CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/2.

9. Also at the same meeting, the President introduced the provisional agenda and timetable for the work of the Conference, as contained in document CTBT-Art. XIV/1999/1, and proposed an amendment to the timetable for the work of the Conference. The Conference adopted the provisional agenda and timetable, as amended, with the following agenda items:

1 . Opening of the Conference by the Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
2. Election of the President
3. Adoption of the rules of procedure
4. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters
5. Election of officers other than the President
6. Credentials of representatives to the Conference (a) Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee

b) Report of the Credentials Committee

7. Confirmation of the Secretary of the Conference
8. Address by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
9. Welcoming address by the Vice-Chancellor of Austria
10. Address by the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

11. General exchange of views by ratifiers and signatories on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
12. Statements by non-Signatory States

13. Statement on behalf of NGOs

14. Consideration and adoption of the Final Declaration

15. Any matters arising from paragraph 3 of Article XIV

16. Adoption of the report of the Conference

17. Closure of the Conference

10. At the first plenary meeting, in accordance with rule 6 of the rules of procedure, the Conference elected representatives of Australia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Peru and South Africa as Vice-Presidents of the Conference.

11. At the same meeting, in accordance with rule 11 of the rules of procedure, the Conference confirmed the nomination by the Secretary-General of the United Nations of Mr. Wolfgang Hoffmann, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), as Secretary of the Conference.

12. At the second plenary meeting, on 6 October, in accordance with rule 4 of the rules of procedure, upon the proposal of the President the Conference established a Credentials Committee composed of representatives of Argentina, Lesotho, Republic of Korea, Slovenia and Sweden. The Report of the Credentials Committee, as contained in document CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/4, was adopted by the Conference at its fifth plenary meeting, on 8 October.

III. WORK OF THE CONFERENCE
13. The Conference held a total of six plenary meetings and had before it the following documents:

CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/1 Provisional Agenda and Proposed Timetable for the Work of the Conference
CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/2 Draft Rules of Procedure of the Conference
CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/3 Background Document by the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/4 Report of the Credentials Committee
CTBT-Art.XIV/1 999/INF.1 Information for Participants

CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/INF.2/Rev.1 List of Participants

14. At the second plenary meeting, on 6 October, Ms. Louise Frechette, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, addressed the Conference.

15. At the same meeting, His Excellency Mr. Wolfgang Schussel, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, gave a welcoming address on behalf of the host State.

16. Also at the same meeting, Mr. Wolfgang Hoffmann, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO, addressed the Conference.

17. An informal open-ended drafting group was convened by the President to discuss the draft Final Declaration of the Conference, under the chairmanship of the President's delegation. The group met on 6 October 1999.

18. At the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth plenary meetings, under agenda item 11 there was a "General Exchange of views by ratifiers and signatories on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". The Conference heard statements by representatives of participating States in the following order: Germany, Japan, Romania, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Finland (on behalf of the European Union and the Associated States Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), Iran (Islamic Republic of), Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China, Russian Federation, Peru (on behalf of the States Signatories of Latin America and the Caribbean), Poland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Guatemala (on behalf of the Group of Central American countries), Czech Republic, Slovenia, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Turkey, France, Israel, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, United States of America, Jordan, Indonesia, Algeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Canada, Uruguay, Italy, Egypt, Malawi, Costa Rica, Philippines, Iceland, South Africa, Ecuador, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Argentina.

19. At the fifth plenary meeting, on 8 October, in accordance with rule 40 of the rules of procedure, under agenda item 12, a statement was made by the non-Signatory State Pakistan.

20. At the same meeting, in accordance with rule 43 of the rules of procedure, a statement on behalf of NGOs attending the Conference was made by Mr. George Bunn, Centre for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University.

V. CONCLUSION OF THE CONFERENCE

21. At the sixth plenary meeting, on 8 October, the Conference considered and adopted the Final Declaration of the Conference, the text of which is annexed to this Report. At the time of the adoption of the Final Declaration, the President noted the fact that representatives of the following non-Signatory States attended the Conference: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. He stated that the Conference welcomed them and expressed its appreciation for their presence. The President also informed the Conference of his intention to request the Secretary-General of the United Nations as Depositary of the Treaty to forward the Final Declaration to all States as soon as possible.

22. At the same meeting, the Conference considered agenda item 15, "Any matters arising from paragraph 3 of Article XIV", and took note of the provisions contained in paragraph 3 of Article XIV of the Treaty.

23.. Also at the same meeting, the Conference considered and adopted the Report of the Conference as contained in the present document.

CTBT-Art.XIV/1999/5

ANNEX

Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

(Vienna, 8 October 1999)
FINAL DECLARATION

1. Recalling the responsibilities which we assumed by signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty and pursuant to Article XIV of that Treaty, we the ratifiers, together with the Signatory States, met in Vienna from 6-8 October 1999 to promote its entry into force at the earliest possible date. We welcomed the presence of representatives of non-Signatory States, international organizations and non-governmental organizations.

2. Determined to enhance international peace and security throughout the world, we reaffirmed the importance of a universal and internationally and effectively verifiable comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty. We reiterated that the cessation of all nuclear weapon test explosions and all other nuclear explosions, by constraining the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and ending the development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, constitutes an effective measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects and thus a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process to achieve nuclear disarmament. We therefore renewed our strong determination to work for universal ratification of the Treaty, and its early entry into force as provided for in Article XIV.

3. In accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Treaty, we examined the extent to which the requirement set out in paragraph 1 had been met and decided by consensus what measures consistent with international law may be undertaken to accelerate the ratification process in order to facilitate the early entry into force of the Treaty.

4. Since the Treaty was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly and opened for signature three years ago, 154 States have signed and 51 States have deposited their instruments of ratification. Of the 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty whose ratification is required for the entry into force of the Treaty, 41 have signed, and 26 have both signed and ratified the Treaty. A list of those States is provided in the Appendix. The ratification process has accelerated. We welcomed this as evidence of the determination of States not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, and to prohibit and prevent any such nuclear explosion at any place under their jurisdiction or control.

5. Since the opening for signature of the CTBT, nuclear explosions have been carried out. The countries concerned subsequently declared that they would not conduct further nuclear explosions and indicated their willingness not to delay the entry into force of the Treaty.

6. We noted with satisfaction the report of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) to the Conference on progress made by the Preparatory Commission and its Provisional Technical Secretariat since November 1996 in fulfilment of the requirement to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective establishment of the future CTBTO.

7. Conscious of the objectives we all share and of the importance of universal adherence to the Treaty, welcoming the ratifications of all the States that have done so, and stressing particularly the steps required to achieve its early entry into force, as provided for in Article XIV of the Treaty, we:
(a) Call upon all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible and refrain from acts which would defeat its object and purpose in the meanwhile;

(b) Call upon all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their early successful conclusion;

(c) Recall the fact that two States whose ratification is needed for the Treaty's entry into force but which have not yet signed it have expressed their willingness not to delay the entry into force of the Treaty, and call upon them to fulfil these pledges;

(d) Note the fact that one State whose ratification is needed for the Treaty's entry into force but which has not yet signed it has not expressed its intention towards the Treaty, and call upon this State to sign and ratify it so as to facilitate the entry into force of the Treaty;

(e) Note the ratification by two nuclear weapon States, and call upon the remaining three to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their early successful conclusion;

(f) In pursuit of the early entry into force of the Treaty, undertake ourselves to use all avenues open to us in conformity with international law, to encourage further signature and ratification of the Treaty; and urge all States to sustain the momentum generated by this Conference by continuing to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level;

(g) Agree that ratifying States will select one of their number to promote cooperation to facilitate the early entry into force of the Treaty, through informal consultations with all interested countries;

(h) Urge all States to share legal and technical information and advice in order to facilitate the processes of signature, ratification and implementation by the States concerned, and upon their request. We encourage the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to support actively these efforts consistent with their respective mandates;
(i) Call upon the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization to continue its international cooperation activities demonstrating the benefits of the application of verification technologies for peaceful purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, thus encouraging signature and ratification of the Treaty by the States concerned;

(j) Appeal to all relevant sectors of civil society to raise awareness of and support for the objectives of the Treaty, as well as its early entry into force as provided for in Article XIV of the Treaty.

8. We reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty's basic obligations and our undertaking to refrain from acts which would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty pending its entry into force.

9. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursue the efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime shall be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty at entry into force, in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the Treaty. We will continue to provide the support required to enable the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization to complete its tasks.

10. The Conference addressed the issue of possible future conferences and took note of the provisions contained in paragraph 3 of Article XIV of the Treaty.


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