Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Burkina Faso expresses his
support for the CTBT

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso, H.E.Mr Youssouf Ouedraogo, has expressed his support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) during a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Mr Wolfgang Hoffmann, on 27 April 2005 at the Organization?s seat in Vienna. The Minister and the Executive Secretary discussed issues pertaining to the CTBT and its ratification by States Signatories. The Foreign Minister expressed his willingness to encourage other African and francophone States to ratify the CTBT. In this context, he added that Burkina Faso was willing to assume an active role in the promotion of global security. During the meeting, the Minister and the Executive Secretary also discussed activities of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO. Mr Hoffmann expressed appreciation of the excellent cooperation between Burkina Faso and the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO. Burkina Faso signed the CTBT on 27 September 1996 and ratified it on 17 April 2002. Of the 53 States in the African region, 51 have signed and 27 have ratified the Treaty. Three of the four African States that are listed in Annex 2 of the CTBT have ratified the Treaty.

For further information on the CTBTO, please see www.ctbto.org or contact:
Annika Thunborg, Chief, Public Information  
T    +43 1 26030-6375  
E    annika.thunborg@ctbto.org
M    +43 699 1459 6375       
I    www.ctbto.org