Perspectives

The Twin Pillars of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty by Jayantha Dhanapala, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs

If a polling organization were to sample The road to entry into force global norm, one that will require worldwide opinion on the question of significant changes of the policies of whether there should be additional The Treaty itself outlines a legal process several governments. It will require nuclear-weapons tests, the result would to achieve this goal. In accordance with investments of time and effort, including undoubtedly be a resounding NO. A Article XIV, and upon request of a the dedicated use of scientific and follow-up question asking whether such majority of ratifying States, the United financial resources. It will require a prohibition should be legally binding Nations Secretary-General – the Treaty’s political leaders in legislatures to would likely elicit an equally strong Depositary – has twice convened special understand the Treaty’s benefits, as well affirmative response. conferences (Conferences on Facilitating as the commitments needed to sustain the Entry into Force of the CTBT) to them. Above all, it will require greater “consider and decide by consensus what attention as a goal of civil society, which measures consistent with international often tends to assume that actions in law may be undertaken to accelerate the conformity with common sense take care ratification process”, and thereby of themselves without the need for achieve this goal. A third such heroic efforts. conference will take place in Vienna, from 3 to 5 September this year. Diplomatic efforts should continue to focus on encouraging the remaining 13 Yet by all indications, the key Annex 2 States to ratify the Treaty. These challenge ahead is not of a legal nature, efforts should stress not just the benefits or even technical – given the growing of the Treaty, but also the risks if it fails to capabilities of the Treaty's International enter into force, including potential AUSTRIA CENTER, VIENNA, VENUE OF THE 2003 ARTICLE XIV CONFERENCE Monitoring System (IMS) and the damage to the NPT regime. Backed by Provisional Technical Secretariat – but strong popular support from civil society, political in virtually all its aspects. such diplomacy can succeed. This should surprise no one. Relying on common sense, average citizens across The political challenge The keys to the early entry into the globe understand that a total ban on force of the CTBT thus remain where such tests is in everybody’s interest. Some The challenge is political because the they have always been, in the hands of might recall the human health and Treaty is engaged in establishing a new the people and their leaders. Each time environmental effects of atmospheric nuclear testing. Some might remember how the many nuclear tests in South Asia have aggravated tensions in that region. And still others might point to the vast “Diplomatic efforts should continue to resources that continue to flow into nuclear weapons pursuits, particularly by focus on encouraging the remaining 13 the five nuclear-weapon states who made Annex 2 States to ratify the Treaty. These an “unequivocal undertaking” at the 2000 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) efforts should stress not just the benefits Review Conference to eliminate their of the Treaty, but also the risks if it fails nuclear arsenals. to enter into force, including potential Given these concerns, what is needed damage to the NPT regime.” to bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force? we see a consensus Final Declaration a key commitment that led to the Biographical note emerging from a Conference on indefinite extension of the NPT in 1995. Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Jayantha CTBT, we see this political process in The future of the CTBT Dhanapala, a Sri action. Each time leaders join to Lankan national, pronounce their common views on the The Final Declaration of the Conference has served as United Treaty – as seen most recently in the on Facilitating the Entry into Force of Nations Under- Joint Ministerial Statement on the CTBT, the CTBT in 2001 recognized the Secretary-General originally bearing the for Disarmament signatures of 18 Affairs from January foreign ministers (now 1998 to June 2003. 52 have signed) – the “The keys to the early entry process moves He joined the Sri Lankan Foreign forward. Each time into force of the CTBT thus Service in 1965 and held diplomatic the General Assembly remain where they have appointments in London, Beijing, adopts by Washington D.C. and New Delhi. In overwhelming always been, in the hands of 1984 he was appointed Ambassador, and majorities (most the people and their leaders.” subsequently served as Permanent recently by a vote of Representative of his country to the 164-1-5) resolutions United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, calling for the “earliest and to the United States with concurrent entry into force” of the Treaty, we see important role of civil society in accreditation to Mexico. additional steps forward. bringing the Treaty into force, and underscored the Member States’ In addition to his diplomatic posts, Mr. Other goals of entry into force determination to “use all avenues open Dhanapala held positions as Director of the to us in conformity with international United Nations Institute for Disarmament While the case for this Treaty is already law” to achieve this aim. The future of Research (UNIDIR) in Geneva in 1987, and compelling as an end in itself, its entry the CTBT will rest upon these twin as Diplomat-in-Residence at the Monterey into force would also advance a wide pillars of support from governments and Institute of International Studies in the range of other important goals. The the people. United States in 1997. Treaty would serve a confidence- building function by serving the interest A week after the next Conference Mr. Dhanapala has chaired many of strategic stability. It would effectively on Facilitating the Entry into Force of international conferences and has put an end to qualitative nuclear arms the CTBT opens in Vienna on 3 received several awards for his work in races, while promoting non-proliferation September this year, the world will diplomacy and disarmament, including and disarmament goals. The CTBT commemorate the seventh anniversary two honorary doctoral degrees. would also conserve resources that could of the signing of the CTBT. This should be devoted to meet more compelling be an occasion not for gloom or security or development challenges. recriminations, but to celebrate the Many countries are increasingly aware tenacity of the human effort to achieve of the civilian scientific and technical at long last one of the greatest initiatives benefits that derive from the full on the road to global nuclear implementation of the IMS, including disarmament. The absence of explosive new educational and training opportuni- nuclear tests over the last five years did ties for young scientists around the not result from chance. The will of the world. Entry into force would also fulfill people will prevail.