The EastWest Institute, in coordination with the Co-Presidents of the CTBTO’s Article XIV Entry-into-Force Process, convened a workshop on Promoting the CTBT: Politics, Science and Capacity Development at the United Nations on May 10, 2010. The workshop bought together leading experts, policymakers, and diplomats to discuss the next steps in advancing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The CTBT has been signed by 182 states and ratified by 151. But the treaty cannot enter into force until all 44 Annex 2 states—states that possessed nuclear reactors and negotiated the treaty in the 1990s—ratify it. Nine Annex 2 states have still not done so.

The EWI workshop considered the steps necessary to move these nine states towards ratification and bring the CTBT into force.

Main suggestions and observations from the workshop include:

• Although entry-into-force and universalization are parallel objectives of the CTBT regime, it is likely that the treaty will first come into force. Three actions are necessary to bring the treaty into force: French-Moroccan bilateral political cooperation to highlight their leadership in the process; the introduction of multilateral declarations in forums in New York and Vienna; and political meetings at the regional and global level to promote the process.
• Efforts to bring the treaty into force are more likely to be successful if the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is successful. However, progress on the entry-into-force process and NPT Review Conference must be followed by concrete actions. The risk also remains that competing agendas in domestic politics, including priorities in disarmament and nonproliferation, will hinder prospects for CTBT ratification.
• Confidence in the CTBT is essential for its success, and verification is essential for confidence. The International Monitoring System (IMS), approximately 70% complete, now has the ability to detect an explosion of a kiloton or more and pinpoint the location of the explosion within 1000 square kilometers. In the northern hemisphere, the IMS is even capable of detecting yields less than one kiloton. One speaker noted, If CERN [European Organization for Nuclear Research] is big science, then the CTBTO is big verification.”
• The CTBTO and the International Monitoring System provide “verification for all and by all.” The CTBT is an all-inclusive treaty that outlines obligations for both nuclear- and non-nuclear-weapon states. A significant amount of capacity building is necessary to further integrate states into the treaty and allow all countries to fully benefit from it. Training, education, and partnerships with governments, NGOs, and educational organizations can help countries build the necessary scientific and technical capabilities to become integrated into the treaty structure.

The complete agenda of the seminar follows.

Welcome and Introductions

• Dr. W. Pal Sidhu, Vice President of Programs, EastWest Institute

Overcoming Political Obstacles and Achieving Entry into Force

• H.E. Ambassador Florence Mangin, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Vienna; Coordinator, Entry-into-Force Process, Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
• H.E. Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations

Achievements and Future Prospects of the CTBTO Verification Regime

• Mr. Daniel Verwaerde, Director of Military Applications, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (France)
• Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Director of the International Data Centre Division, Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

The Nexus Between Politics, Science, and Capacity Development

• H.E. Ambassador Tibor Toth, Executive Secretary, Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Open Discussion

• Moderated by Dr. W. Pal Sidhu