Q: Looking forward, how do you see the prospects for bringing those last Annex 2 countries on board the Treaty before, or in the context of, the next Article XIV Conference, tentatively scheduled for September 2009 in New York?

Well, if we were to get all remaining Annex 2 countries to ratify before the Conference, then we wouldn’t need to convene it at all because the Treaty would have already entered into force or be about to enter into force! But there’s something in your question that leads me to believe you doubt that it will happen before September 2009, and I tend to agree with that. As discussed before, it’s a fairly lengthy process so that’s not, realistically speaking, likely.

Perhaps a few will take the step to ratify before 2009. This is conceivable. But getting all on board will be a longer process.

As for the United States, there will be a new Administration that will have to focus on this issue, but along with many other competing issues and priorities. That will necessitate policy reviews, also for arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Even if they were to revisit the Treaty on a bipartisan basis, it would still take considerable time. Of course, a positive decision by the new Administration would already, in and of itself, have a positive effect, but it would still have to be brought before Congress. Still, come the day when the US develops sufficient political will, we look forward to a new momentum in the overall Treaty ratification process.