Joint Ministerial Statement on the CTBT

Presented at the UN, New York, September 14,2002 by Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands

1. We, the Foreign Ministers who have issued this statement, join together to reaffirm the vision which was the basis for the conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. That vision was for a treaty which would rid the world of nuclear weapons test explosions and would contribute to systematic and progressive reduction of nuclear weapons and the prevention of nuclear proliferation, as a major instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

2. The early entry into force of the CTBT, which would bring about the cessation of all nuclear weapon test explosions and any other nuclear explosions, has been identified by the UN General Assembly as being central to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives. The last Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) also emphasised the importance of the CTBT, listing its entry into force as the first of a series of practical steps needed to achieve NPT nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives.

3. The prevention of the proliferation of materials, technologies and knowledge which can be used for weapons of mass destruction is one of the most important challenges the world is facing today. Additional international tensions have developed since the CTBT was negotiated, which make entry into force of the Treaty, within the broader framework of multilateral arms control and non-proliferation efforts, even more urgent today. We affirm that the CTBT has an essential role to play in strengthening global peace and security. This role should be recognised by all of us.

4. We call upon all States that have not yet signed and ratified the CTBT to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force. To help bring this about, we will make representations as appropriate, individually or together, including at regional and multilateral meetings, in order to make the Treaty a focus of attention at the highest political levels. The scientific community, non-governmental organisations and other elements of civil society also have a role to play, in raising awareness of and in strengthening support for the Treaty.

5. We call upon all States to continue a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions. Voluntary adherence to such a moratorium is of the highest importance, but cannot serve as a substitute for entry into force of the Treaty. Only the CTBT offers to the global community the prospect of a permanent and legally binding commitment to end nuclear testing.

6. We consider that it is vital to maintain momentum in building the verification machinery, so that it is ready to guarantee compliance with the Treaty. We appeal to all States Signatories to make available the financial resources needed to build and operate the verification system as soon as possible, through full and timely payment of assessed contributions. Completing the verification system foreseen in the Treaty by entry into force will ensure a high level of confidence that States are maintaining their treaty commitments.

7. The verification system will be unprecedented in its global reach. In addition to its primary function, it will bring scientific and civil benefits, particularly to developing countries, through technology transfer and exchange of scientific know-how, as a result of the installation and use of seismic, radionuclide, infrasound and hydroacoustic networks. Moreover, technical cooperation between states can help to enhance the already impressive verification capabilities under the CTBT. We will be seeking ways to ensure that co-operation among States Signatories allows for effective technical assistance, and we call upon other States to join us in this endeavour.

8. We will spare no effort in seeking to realise the vision of a ban on nuclear weapons test explosions which culminated in conclusion of the CTBT in 1996, and invite our fellow Foreign Ministers to join us in this task.

Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia

Betina Ferrero-Waldner
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria

Vilayat Quliyev
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Mikhail Khvostov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus

Louis Michel
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium

Solomon Passy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria

William Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada

Maria Soledad Alvear Valenzuela
Minister for Foreign Affairs Republic of Chile

Tonino Picula
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

Cyril Svoboda
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Per Stig Møller
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Kristiina Ojuland
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

Kaliopate Tavola
Minister for Foreign Affairs & External Trade of Fiji

Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic

Erkki Tuomioja
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Joschka Fischer
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany

Georgios Papandreou
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece
Lászl? Kovács
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary

Halldórósgrímsson
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland

Brian Cowen
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland

Silvio Berlusconi
Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy

Keith Desmond Knight
Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade of Jamaica

Yoriko Kawaguchi
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Marwan Al Muasher
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan

Marsden Herman Madoka
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the Republic of Kenya

Teburoro Tito
President & Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kiribati

Choi Sung-hong
Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade of the Republic of Korea

Antanas Valionis
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Lydie Polfer
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Joe Borg
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta

Jaap De Hoop Scheffer
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Phil Goff
Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade of New Zealand

Alhaji Sule Lamido
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Jan Petersen
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway

Jorge Enrique Halphen Perez
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama

Allan Wagner Tizón
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru

Blas F. Ople
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines

Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

António Martins da Cruz
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal

Mircea Geoana
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania

Igor S. Ivanov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Eduard Kukan
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic

Dimitrij Rupel
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia

Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa

Ana Palacio
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain

Anna Lindh
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden

Joseph Deiss
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland

Professor Sukru Sina Gurel
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey

Jack Straw
Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom

Abdulaziz Kamilov
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan