Marshall Islands ratifies
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Vienna, 13 November
2009
The Marshall Islands has ratified
the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), becoming the 151st
country to do so.
The ratification of the CTBT by the
Marshall Islands is highly symbolic. A total of 67 atmospheric nuclear tests
were conducted by the United States at the Bikini and Enewetak Atolls between
1946 and 1958. Following negotiations between the United States and the
Marshall Islands, the U.S. agreed in 1983 to reward compensation payments to
those affected by its nuclear testing programme. The Marshall Island Nuclear
Claims Tribunal founded in 1988 continues to represent the interests of those
affected by the nuclear testing programme.
The Marshall Islands was one of the
71 countries that signed the CTBT on 24 September 1996, the day it opened for
signature. Of the 15 Pacific Island States, 12 States have signed and 10 have
ratified the CTBT. The remaining three non-signatories are Niue, Tonga and
Tuvalu. Overall, the Treaty enjoys near-universality with 182 States having signed and 151 having
ratified it.
The CTBT and its entry into force
enjoy renewed political prominence. The 106 States that gathered in September
in New York for a conference
to promote the Treaty’s entry into force called on all outstanding States
to sign and ratify the Treaty. The CTBT´s entry into force was also supported
at the September United Nations Security Council summit
meeting at Heads of State level on nuclear non-proliferation and
disarmament.
The CTBT bans all nuclear
explosions. The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty Organization (CTBTO) is building a verification regime to
monitor the planet for compliance with the Treaty. When complete, 337 facilities worldwide will monitor
underground, the oceans and the atmosphere for any sign of a nuclear
explosion. To date, close to 250 facilities have been certified and send data
to the International
Data Centre at the CTBTO in Vienna, Austria.
For
further information on the CTBTO, please see www.ctbto.org –
your resource on ending
nuclear testing, or contact:
Annika Thunborg, Spokesperson and Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E annika.thunborgping@ctbtopong.org
M +43 699 1459 6375
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