Towards a world without nuclear tests : fulfilling the promise

22 MAY 2018, EGMONT PALACE (BRUSSELS) - AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY THE EGMONT INSTITUTE AND THE BELGIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Part of ongoing efforts of Belgium to facilitate the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

10th Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT, United Nations headquarters in New York, 20 September 2017

This mandate, also known under the name of the “Article XIV Conference”, was given to Belgium and Iraq for the years 2017-2019.

SPEAKERS

(Left) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO and (Right) Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium

(Left) Iraq Ambassador to Belgium Jawad Al-Hindawi, (Right) Ambassador Sha Zukang, member of the Group of Emminent Persons of the CTBTO and China’s CTBT head negotiator

Ambassador Jacek Bylica, EEAS Principal Adviser and Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament

Ambassador Johan Verbeke, Director of the Egmont Institute (Moderator)

WHY?

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The CTBT foresees a definitive end to all nuclear explosions, under the control of a new international organisation. It was opened to signature in 1996

Today, the CTBT has been signed by 183 countries, and ratified by 166

In 2018, the world is still waiting for 8 States to join the Treaty so that it can enter into force. Almost all nations respect a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing. Only one State, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, conducted nuclear tests since the beginning of this century

« Even if recent announcements by North Korea have instilled hope that a world free of nuclear tests may be within reach, only the signature and the ratification of the CTBT will offer the prospect of lasting security » Didier Reynders

As a legal instrument, even before entering into force, the CTBT has reinforced an international norm against nuclear testing to the extent that any violation is now met with universal condemnation.

On the technical side, at about 90% complete, the Treaty’s verification regime is already so advanced that its detection capability is greater than negotiators had even thought possible.

The objective of the Article XIV Conference is to provide impetus to facilitating the Treaty’s long overdue entry into force.

After a long history of war on its soil, the fight for peace and disarmament is a priority of Belgian diplomacy.

"WHY PROHIBITING NUCLEAR TESTING MATTERS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT" A JOINT OPEN EDITORIAL BY LASSINA ZARBO, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CTBTO, DIDIER REYNDERS, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF BELGIUM AND IBRAHIM AL-JAFARI, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF IRAK

The role of the youth is essential. Set up in 2016, the CTBTO Youth Group counts today about 400 members. Many from non-signatory countries!

Involving the leaders and experts of tomorrow is also a priority of Belgium

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