LOC20:30
17:30 GMT
NEW YORK, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Twenty years after the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted, the UN Security Council called today once again on all states who have not signed and ratified to do so.
In a Security Council meeting held on the sidelines of the 71st session of the General Assembly, resolution 2310, encouraging all states signed in the CTBT to promote the universality and early entry into force of it.
Recalling the statements by each of the five nuclear-weapon States, in 1995, in which they give security assurances against the use of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear-weapon state parties to the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Council affirmed that such security assurances strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The resolution adopted today with 14 in favor, and Egyptian abstention, calls on all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear-weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion and to maintain their moratoria in this regard.
The US drafted resolution, commends those States' national moratoria, some of which are established by national legislation pending entry into force of the Treaty, and "emphasizes that such moratoria are an example of responsible international behaviour that contributes to international peace and stability and should continue, while stressing that such moratoria do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as entry into force of the Treaty."
Speaking before the vote, the Egyptian representative expressed "discontent and dissatisfaction" with the resolution, noting that the CTBT is substantively flawed and ill-suited to be addressed in the Security Council.
From 1996, 183 States have signed the Treaty and 166 States have deposited their instruments of ratification. (end)
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