The objectives and implementation of CTBT

1. Comprehensive Nuclear Test
ban Treaty
( Its implementation and objectives, ratification and verificat
Presentation by: Waqar Ahmad
(Ex Pakistan Marine Academy Cadet)
Bachelors in Nautical sciences
MSc in International Relations
National defence University Islamabad Pakistan

3. History
• The PTBT in 1963 does not ban underground nuclear tests and peaceful nuclear
explosions(PNE).
• Negotiations on comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty started in 1994 in the
CONFERENCE OF DISSARMAMENT(CD).
• In Jun 1996, a final draft treaty was presented to the CD.
• Although an overwhelming majority of the CD member states, supported the draft, India
opposed the treaty because of a provision for the entry-into-force of the treaty and the
lack of a commitment by the nuclear weapon states to eliminate nuclear weapons with
in a specified time-frame.
• As a result in August 1996, Australia submitted the identical CTBT draft to the UN general
assembly.
• It was adopted by the UN in Sept. 10 1996 and was open for signature at UN, on sept.
24, 1996

4. Summary
• Prohibits all nuclear explosions, Peaceful or military anywhere.
• Nuclear explosions does not apply to controlled nuclear reactions in
nuclear reactors or inertial confinement fusion experiments.
• Elaborates on the global verification regime (IMS and IDC),
consultation process and on-site inspection request.
• Article IX states that the treaty is of unlimited duration and the state
and each state party has the right to withdraw from it if it decides
that extra ordinary events have jeopardized its supreme interests.

5. Status
• As of 2013, 183 nations(out of 196) have signed the treaty.159 of
them have ratified them.
• North Korea, India and Pakistan have not signed the treaty.
• China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the US that signed the treaty, have not
ratified it.
• So it has not entered into force.

6. Implementing Organization
• Article II establishes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization
(CTBTO) , which ensures treaty implementation.(Vienna)
• CTBTO operating in collaboration with, the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA).
• CTBTO consists of:
Conference of state parties: overall governing body of the organization,
handles treaty like policies and oversees the treaty implementation conference
once a year
Executive council: Acts as the treaty’s principal decision-making body, consists
of 51 members. The members of the council are elected by the conference.
At least one-third of the seats allotted to each region will be filled by states-
parties on the basis of their nuclear capabilities applicable to the treaty, such as
the number of monitoring facilities they contribute to the International
Monitoring System (IMS).

7. Technical sectariat: The primary body responsible for implementing the treaty’s
verification provisions.
It supervises the operation of the IMS and receives, processes, analyzes and
reports on the system’s data. It also manages the International Data Center (IDC)
and performs procedural tasks related to conducting on-site inspections. Until the
treaty enters into force, these functions are being handled by the Provisional
Technical Secretariat.

8. Verification and compliance
• Article IV and the verification protocol establish the treaty’s verification regime,
which consists of four basic elements: the IMS, consultation and clarification, on-
site inspections and confidence-building measures.
IMS:
It consists of 321 monitoring stations and 16 laboratories built worldwide.
• It uses four monitoring technologies:
• 1-Seismology
• 2-Hydro acoustics
• 3-Infrasound
• 4-Radio nuclide

9. • The consultation and clarification: This component of the verification regime
encourages states-parties to attempt to resolve, either among themselves or
through the organization, possible instances of non-compliance before requesting
an on-site inspection
• The verification regime also incorporates confidence-building measures intended
to promote treaty compliance. In order to reduce the likelihood that verification
data may be misconstrued, each state-party voluntarily provides the Technical
Secretariat with notification of any chemical explosion involving a magnitude of
300 tons or more of TNT-equivalent on its territory. Each state-party may also
assist the Technical Secretariat in the calibration of IMS stations.

11. Amendment Process
Under Article VII, each state-party has the right to propose amendments
to the treaty after its entry into force. Any proposed amendment requires
the approval of a simple majority of states-parties at an amendment
conference with no party casting a negative vote.

12. Peaceful Nuclear Explosions
• Under Article VIII, a conference will be held 10 years after the treaty’s entry into force
to review the implementation of its provisions, including the preamble.
• At this review conference, any state-party may request that the issue of so-called
“peaceful nuclear explosions” (PNEs) be put on the agenda
• First, the review conference must decide without objection that PNEs may be
permitted, then an amendment to the treaty must also be approved without objection
at a separate amendment conference.
• The amendment must also demonstrate that no military benefits would result from
such explosions.

13. Duration and Withdrawal:
• Under Article IX, the treaty has an unlimited duration.
• Each state-party has the right to withdraw from the treaty if it decides,
“extraordinary events related to the subject matter of this Treaty have
jeopardized its supreme interests.”
• Notice of intent to withdraw must be given at least six months in advance.

15. Entry into Force:
• Under Article XIV, the treaty will not enter into force until it has been signed
and ratified by 44 states listed by name in Annex 2.
• include P5—United States, Russia, Britain, France and China—as well as
India, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan.
• Until entry into force, conferences may be held for those states that have
already deposited their instruments of ratification
• Since 1999, the Conference Facilitating Entry Into Force of the CTBT has been
convened every other year.

16. Analysis
“The treaty though prohibits nuclear test explosions however the same
has come under serious criticism too. One of the most controversial
provisions of the treaty deal with the Entry into Force clause because of
which India was keen in its opposition. It cannot be denied that the
CTBT, NPT and various other attempts towards Nuclear Disarmament
are steps in the positive direction, however the NWS showing no
interest in willing to disarm, these treaties are just another instance
that makes us realize that International law is a vanishing point of
Jurisprudence”