Brussels, 07/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton warmly welcomed, on Wednesday 7 December, the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by Indonesia on 6 December, and congratulated the Indonesian government on this move, which is essential for the treaty to come into force. “With its ratification, Indonesia confirmed its commitment to the objective of eliminating all nuclear test explosions worldwide”, Ashton added.
Indonesia is the 156th country to become a State Party to the CTBT. “The European Union urges all states which have not yet signed or ratified the treaty, in particular the eight remaining states (China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, South Korea and the United States) whose ratification is necessary for the entry into force of the Treaty, to do so without further delay”, she stated.
Ashton noted that the coming into effect of the CTBT is a “major objective” on the multilateral agenda, and remains a strategic priority for the EU as an “essential element of advancing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation”.
The CTBT is an international treaty banning all nuclear trials and all other types of nuclear explosion, whether peaceful or military in purpose and no matter the environment. (CG/transl.rt)