24 September 1998 SG/SM/6717
DCF/350
SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES INDIA'S READINESS TO CONCLUDE DISCUSSIONS ON SIGNING COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY 19980924Following is the text of a statement made today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan commending India's announcement of its readiness to conclude discussions on signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT):I commend, with great satisfaction, the announcement by the Prime Minister of India today of his Government's readiness to successfully conclude their ongoing discussions on the CTBT so that the entry into force of the Treaty -- for which the ratification of 44 States, including India, is necessary -- is not delayed beyond September 1999. Following the announcement made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan yesterday, India's statement increases the momentum for implementing, under international law, the ban on the testing of nuclear explosive devices in all environments. It is also most gratifying to note that both States are participating in the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. These are encouraging developments for the world's progress towards nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. * *** *
United Nations
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