The 2008 Ministerial Meeting
A message of hope and peace
The 2008 Ministerial Meeting - a message of hope and peace
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry and U.N. Messenger of Peace and actor Michael Douglas were keynote speakers at a meeting of around 40 foreign ministers to promote the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
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Phase 2 of On-site Inspecion in 'Arcania' under way
The first phase of the “Integrated Field Exercise 2008” did not yield any evidence of a recently conducted nuclear explosion in the fictitious State of “Arcania”. However, a number of areas of interest requiring further investigation were identified by the inspection team, so the exercise proceeded into the second phase, known as the “continuation period”.
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Burundi ratifies, Timor-Leste signs the CTBT
The CTBT crossed the threshold of 180 signatures with the signing of Timor Leste on 26 September - read press release here
Burundi made a special birthday present to the CTBT by ratifying the Treaty on its 12th anniversary, 24 September 2008, bringing the number of ratifications up to 145 - read press release here
CTBTO enhances cooperation with Austria’s Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics
The groundbreaking ceremony of the extension of the Conrad Observatory was attended by Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), together with the Austrian Minister of Science, Johannes Hahn, and the Governor of Lower Austria, Erwin Pröll, on 17 September.
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Obama to encourage India, Pakistan to sign CTBT, resolve Kashmir
As New Kerala reports, U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama says if elected he would encourage India and Pakistan to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resolve the Kashmir problem to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia.
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Read more on Obama's position on the CTBT here
Ban urges US, Iran, others to join nuclear test ban pact
The Daily Times reports from the CTBT Ministerial Meeting on 24 September and highlights the UN Secretary-General's appeal to the nine CTBT hold-outs.
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Axis of rejection? U.S., Iran, North Korea snub nuclear test ban pact
Louis Charbonneau writes in his blog: "There is a saying in English that people are judged by the company they keep. If this applied to countries, the United States would not fare well when it comes to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)."
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Testing the test-ban treaty: An inspection exercise in Kazakhstan
Rebecca Johnson, founding director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, reports on-site from the "the howling winds and rains of the Kazakh plains" on the CTBTO's Integrated Field Exercise 08.
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Costa Rica urges Latin America to ratify treaty
Ana Teresa Dengo, Costa Rican Ambassador to Vienna, highlighted Costa Rica's appeal to all Latin American countries to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
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