New York, May 1 (DPA) Indonesia said Friday it will soon ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a step hailed by disarmament advocates as helping the treaty to enter into force.
“I warmly welcome the statement made today by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa to the Indonesian Parliament that Indonesia will soon ratify the CTBT,” said Tibor Toth, the executive secretary of the treaty’s secretariat in Vienna.
“This announcement is of crucial importance in moving the treaty closer to entry into force, and underscores the leadership role of Indonesia in regional and global non-proliferation and disarmament efforts,” Toth said.
The treaty bans nuclear tests in the atmosphere to prevent radioactive fallout on the earth.
The treaty has been signed by 182 countries, of which 151 have ratified by adopting national laws to implement the treaty. But the treaty demands that the world’s 44 countries with nuclear technology must all ratify before it enters into force. Of the 44, nine have not yet ratifed.
The nine are Indonesia, China, North Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the US.
