Looking back, looking forward The ' support for the multiple global benefits of the CTBT

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CTBTO SPECTRUM 18 | march 2012 by Prime Minister of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands’ support for inter­ from such tests, not only because the »In force, the national efforts to eliminate nuclear Cook Islands is the closest country to weapons and halt nuclear weapons Moruroa and Fangataufa but also because CTBT will make testing can best be understood at three many of the living resources on which different but inter-related levels. they depended were highly migratory in an important nature and could possibly have originated contribution to the Nuclear testing – a cause in waters where testing had been for concern in the region carried out. That many of the tests were peace and security atmospheric in nature also raised concerns From the initial settlement centuries among Cook Islanders about the possible interests of the ago of the fifteen islands in the centre harmful effects to their health from Cook Islands.« of the South Pacific that history has such testing. In addition, the conduct of subsequently come to know as ‘the nuclear testing activities on Mururoa had Cook Islands’, there has been an a detrimental impact on the Cook Islands’ was the South Pacific Nuclear Free intimate cultural and economic relation- economy, with visitors from beyond the Zone Treaty, commonly known as the ship between Cook Islanders and the Pacific opting for other destinations rather Treaty of Rarotonga. Adopted by Pacific surrounding ocean. From birth, genera- than visit islands where nuclear testing Leaders on 6 August 1985 when they tions of Cook Islanders have had a deep was perceived as taking place nearby. gathered for their annual Forum meeting appreciation that the ‘Moana Nui o Kiva’, on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands’ main the great Pacific Ocean, is not only a Treaty of Rarotonga – a island, the Treaty prohibits the testing, maritime highway, connecting one island major regional initiative manufacturing, acquiring and stationing to another, but also the marine farm from of nuclear explosive devices in any which Cook Islanders harvest a major part To address the above concerns, and territory of Treaty parties. Accompanying of their daily sustenance. Any activities recognizing both the need to act collec- the Treaty are three Protocols aimed at threatening the degradation of the marine tively and its more general obligations as securing the support of nuclear powers environment would be unacceptable. a member of the international community for the nuclear free zone. All five to promote peace and security, the Cook nuclear-weapon States (China, , It was against that fundamental Islands increasingly turned its attention Russia, the United Kingdom and the world view that Cook Islanders watched to initiatives at the Pacific regional level, United States) have signed the relevant with growing concern as, in the post- collaborating with neighbouring govern- Protocols. The Treaty and its Protocols World War II period, different world ments all of which shared similar concerns. reflect the region’s deep concern at the powers undertook nuclear testing At the very first Forum of Pacific Heads continuing nuclear arms race and the programmes in the Trust Territory of of State and Government in 1971, for risk of nuclear war. Support for the the Pacific Islands in Micronesia in the example, the Cook Islands joined with objectives of the Treaty and Protocols late 1940s and 1950s, on Christmas others in expressing collective concern at continues to be promoted by the Cook and Malden Islands (some 1,200 km the potential hazards that atmospheric Islands and its other regional partners. from the Northern Cook Islands) in tests posed to health, safety and marine the North Pacific in the 1950s, and life in the region and called for a cessation The CTBT: central to on Mururoa and Fangataufa Islands of nuclear testing in French Polynesia. the international in French Polynesia (some 2,400 km disarmament and non- east of the Cook Islands’ main island, Over succeeding years, nuclear proliferation regime Rarotonga) from the 1960s to the 1990s. testing became an increasing focus of discussions for the Cook Islands and In concluding the Treaty of Rarotonga, Cook Islanders perceived other regional States at annual Forum the Cook Islands and other Forum a possible threat to the maritime meetings and related activities. An countries believed that such regional environment and the marine food supply important product of those efforts initiatives could contribute to efforts

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CTBTO SPECTRUM 18 | march 2012 23 June 1995: Over 1,500 people, nearly one quarter of Rarotonga’s population, marched against French President Chirac’s decision to resume nuclear testing in Moruroa. Raratonga, the most populated of the Cook Islands, hosts two CTBTO monitoring stations.

Photo © Greenpeace / Steve Morgan

at the international level to reverse the Cook Islands and the Preparatory Japanese authorities in issuing tsunami the nuclear arms race and promote the Commission for the Comprehensive warnings that helped to save lives national security of each country in the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization following the devastating 11 March region and the common security of all. (CTBTO) in 2000, there are already in Japanese earthquake as well as by place on Rarotonga as part of the CTBTO’s providing information about the dispersal Among such broader global efforts International Monitoring System an of radioactivity following the tragic nuclear are a number of treaties to which the Cook auxiliary seismic station and a radionuclide accident at Fukushima. As experience Islands is a party, including the Chemical station. The latter station is a successor has shown, the Pacific Islands region is Weapons Convention, the Biological and to one that had been hosted by the Cook not immune to the disastrous effects of Toxin Weapons Convention, the Landmines Islands and operated by the National tsunamis and the timely application of Convention, the Cluster Munitions Radiation Laboratory of CTBTO data could well prevent deaths Convention and, most directly related for over 30 years at the site to monitor and destruction in the future. There to nuclear weapons, the Comprehensive fallout from nuclear testing in the region. are many benefits to be realized by the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), signed international community from entry by the Cook Islands on 5 December My Government supports the into force of the CTBT. My Government 1997. It subsequently ratified the CTBT Final Declaration of the Conference on commends the strenuous efforts to on 6 September 2005, following the Facilitating the Entry into Force of the date of many countries and individuals passage of implementing legislation with CTBT (the Article XIV Conference) held to realize that goal and will strongly the unanimous support of all members on 23 September 2011, which emphasized support continuing efforts in the future. through the Cook Islands Parliament. the central importance of the CTBT for the

international disarmament and non-prolif- Biographical note Respecting the two core obliga- eration regime and the need to implement tions of the CTBT as set out in Article a wide range of measures, especially those Henry Puna 1 is, of course, fundamental. However, aimed at the early entry into force of the was elected Prime Minister of the Cook with Leaders of other States party to CTBT. In force, the CTBT will make an Islands in November 2010, ending a decade of Democratic Party rule. He first the Convention, my Government is also important contribution to the peace and stood for Parliament at the 2004 committed to doing whatever is possible security interests of the Cook Islands. election and in 2006 was elected leader within our available resources to promote of the − one of the the effective establishment and operation My Government also welcomes two major political parties in the Cook of a verification and monitoring regime, and strongly encourages the application Islands since 1965. Prior to entering politics, Puna worked as a lawyer. which is key to the CTBT’s success. On the of CTBTO data for civil and scientific basis of a facility agreement signed between purposes, as was done in 2011 to assist

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CTBTO SPECTRUM 18 | march 2012