Statement by Wolfgang Hoffmann,
Executive Secretary of the
CTBTO PrepCom (Indian tests)

"The decision by India to conduct two more nuclear tests causes utmost concern. It is not for the Provisional Technical Secretariat to take a political position on this matter. It is for the States signatories to the Treaty to react, and from reactions so far it can be seen that the Indian decision meets the resistance of the international community. India is one of the 44 countries whose ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is necessary for its entry into force. We hope that the Indian declaration that they have now completed the planned series of tests means that they will not conduct any other tests. Despite the negative developments of this week, we hope that India will feel free to join the CTBT.

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