National Seminar on the CTBT in Cameroon

In cooperation with the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of Cameroon organized a national seminar on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in the capital of Yaoundé from 31 March to 1 April 2005. Around 50 participants representing the Office of the President of the Republic, National Assembly, Ministries of External Relations, Justice, Water Resources and Energy, Defense, Environment and Natural Protection, Scientific Research and Innovation, National Centre for Technological Development, as well as scientific experts from the Institutes for Geological and Mining Research, National Cartographies, Medical Research, Agricultural Research and Development, and Universities and National Centre for Education attended the seminar. The objective of the seminar was to enhance the understanding of the CTBT which would assist the national process for Treaty ratification and facilitate the early establishment of the National Data Centre and a Radionuclide Station in Douala, Cameroon, RN13. The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Mr. Maurice Doube, opened the seminar and expressed his hope that the seminar would promote the cooperation between Cameroon and the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, leading to a more active Cameroonian role in support of the CTBT and allowing Cameroon to enjoy membership benefits of the CTBT regime. The Director of the International Data Centre, Mr. Lassina Zerbo, also addressed the national seminar on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, Mr. Wolfgang Hoffmann. In the course of the seminar, representatives of the PTS discussed with seminar participants a number of key issues including the political significance of the CTBT; potential benefits for Signatories States arising from the CTBT regime; the verification system of the CTBT and potential civil and scientific application of the CTBT verification technologies, and legal information available from the Commission to States pertaining to the Treaty's national implementation. The Cameroonian representatives shared their experiences and spoke about the Cameroonian perspectives of the CTBT, necessary steps to be taken in Cameroon, including the earliest deposit of the instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York. Discussions also focused on the need for the establishment of a National Data Centre and the building of national capacities dealing with CTBT-related issues.