The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, called on states that have not yet signed or ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to do so.
“We urge all States that have not yet signed or ratified the Treaty to do so without preconditions or further delay [...] We encourage a range of initiatives to engage in particular with the remaining Annex II States (Egypt, China, Iran, Israel and the United States) that have yet to ratify the Treaty, but also with North Korea, India and Pakistan, which have yet to sign and ratify it”, Ms Mogherini stressed in a speech on behalf of the EU at the conference on facilitating the entry into force of the Treaty.
Pending the entry into force of the Treaty, the High Representative urged all States to refrain from any action contrary to its object and purpose and to maintain moratoria on nuclear weapon test explosions and other nuclear explosions.
The EU speech particularly highlights the situation in North Korea, which must “give concrete expression to its declared intention to end nuclear testing by signing and ratifying the CTBT” and emphasises that the EU hoped that tangible progress would lead to the verifiable dismantling of the nuclear test sites in Pyongyang. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)