News
CTBT is an amazing success, although it is yet to come into force: CTBTO chief
View(s):Creating a world without nuclear weapons is not easy but achievable, says the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation’s Executive Secretary Dr. Robert Floyd
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times in Colombo, Dr. Floyd said the CTBT was an amazing success although it has still not come into force, 26 years after it was opened for signatures
During his visit to Sri Lanka, the CTBTO chief met President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, among others
He said Sri Lanka with its diplomacy has shown that it is part of the CTBT family, though it is yet to ratify the treaty
Excerpts from the interview:
By Ameen Izzadeen
Q: The United States and China have not ratified the CTBT while Pakistan India, and North Korea have not signed it. So, this means the treaty does not apply to five of the nine nuclear power states. Also, it has not come into force. Given this scenario, how effective is the CTBT? And how, how long should we wait for the CTB to come into force ?
A: The CTBT is amazingly successful. It’s amazingly successful because states have committed to moratoriums against nuclear testing. It is so powerful that it is protecting humanity now. So a moratorium commitment is a political commitment by a state. Whether they’ve signed the CTBT or not, they will choose not to test.
I think one of the reasons we have such a powerful norm against nuclear testing is the verification system of the CTBT. We have more than 90% of the verification system established. The system has 337 facilities that are detecting any signs of a nuclear explosion around the world {including Sri Lanka: a CTBT station has been set up in Pallekele, Kandy}. It detects any vibrations in the earth if there was an underground test. There are stations that listen to sound in the atmosphere for an atmospheric test; stations that listen to sound in the ocean for a submarine test, and stations that sample the air to see if there are any radioactive isotopes that would be the telltale sign of a test.
We are confident that any nuclear test anytime anywhere will be detected. So that means if a state is going to choose to test they will have to do it in the light of day.
The object and purpose of the CTBT is a comprehensive ban against nuclear explosion tests. And that object and purpose are being established at the moment through moratorium commitments. That’s why the treaty is a success already.
Q: How does the CTBTO deal with North Korea, which continues to conduct nuclear tests?
A: In the instance of North Korea, and let me just put that in context. In 1996, when the CTBT was available for signature before that date, there have been over 2000 tests conducted globally, but since 1996, through until now, less than a dozen tests. That is a success. In this century only one state, North Korea (that has carried out tests). Whether we have a legally binding treaty, or whether we have moratorium commitments, or political commitments of states, North Korea will choose to do what North Korea will choose to do.
So that isn’t a determinant as to whether the treaty is successful. But I would say that only one state is conducting tests this century is a mark of success.
Q: For the CTBT to come into force, 44 nuclear technology holder countries should ratify it. Why is this condition?
A: It is interesting to consider that the drafters were concerned that the treaty should not require all states to ratify it, so it would enter into force. But they said ‘Oh let’s just look at the minimum number of states’. And those were states that either had nuclear weapons or had advanced nuclear technology that might develop weapons in a short space of time. So 44 states were decided. If they all agreed, the treaty should enter into force. Sadly, here we are 26 years on and a good number of the weapon-possessing States have signed and ratified the treaty. But some have not. Also, some other states that do not possess nuclear weapons have not. The annex to the treaty has a list of 44 countries that must ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. There are eight of those countries that still remain.
We are engaging with every one of those eight and working with them to try and find the way where they can get from where they are now, as non-signatories or non-ratifying states, to a place where they would like to be. We also have to work with the circumstances and geopolitical circumstances.
Q: Is the CTBT aimed at protecting the nuclear monopoly of big powers and preventing others from developing nuclear technology or achieving nuclear know-how?
A: This treaty is completely silent on the issue of civilian use of nuclear energy. It is only about a prohibition on nuclear tests and developing nuclear weapons. So a state that wants to have a nuclear power industry is not limited in any shape or form by this treaty.
This treaty does not have two classes of citizens. You only have one class, you’re either a state signatory, and you’re agreeing to not do any nuclear explosive tests, or you’re not a state signatory. And so big states and small states are all together and equal. This treaty is certainly not about elitism and perpetuating any particular norm.
Dr. Robert Floyd
Q: As you know Sri Lanka is one of those countries that have not ratified it. When you meet Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe this week, did you call for Sri Lanka’s ratification?
A: Sri Lanka signed the treaty within one month of it being open for signature. Yes, very quickly. On the 24th of October 1996. Sri Lanka’s domestic policy and diplomacy over the past 26 years have always been in favour of this treaty. In its diplomatic activities, Sri Lanka has acted as a part of the family of states which are state signatories in a very engaged and supportive way with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation. So there is no question about Sri Lanka’s commitment to this treaty. Of course, I would love to see Sri Lanka ratify the treaty. And I really hope that that is something that will happen in the near future.
Q: Did you make a specific request to the President?
A: It would be far from me to say anything specific about a conversation with your wonderful president.
Q: The recent G7 summit called for the creation of a world without nuclear weapons in keeping with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ambitious vision. How realistic is this goal?
A: Prime Minister Kishida has been a wonderful proponent of ultimately seeing a world without nuclear weapons. I congratulate him on his leadership which led to a statement agreed upon by all G7 leaders on disarmament. It was a powerful statement, given the fact that among the members of G7, there are nuclear power countries; and it is through those eyes that this statement should be read to see how powerful it is.
But what you see in that statement is the heartbeat of a world without nuclear weapons. And almost since the day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, there have been cries to find a better world so that this (a nuclear attack) would never happen again. I don’t believe that the desire has been diminished. So, we need to get to a point where disarmament is possible and we may not have the scourge of nuclear weapons. I think it is achievable. Not easy, but achievable.
Q: The Ukraine war has intensified nuclear brinkmanship and fears of a nuclear confrontation. Your comments please.
A: The moment when I look around the world, I see ominous clouds around nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. We see a state threatening to use nuclear weapons. I see a state threatening to test a nuclear weapon. I see the accumulation of highly enriched uranium for purposes which are difficult to understand.
But in what looks like a bleak environment, I hear a chorus in the voice of so many states that are crying out for a world where nuclear testing would be a thing of the past. These circumstances strengthen the resolve of states for stronger international architecture that controls the spread and development of nuclear weapons and stronger international architecture that could ultimately lead to the elimination of these weapons altogether. If anything, the voice of that chorus of all states is getting stronger and stronger.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!