United Nations Secretary-General
issues invitation to 2005 Conference
on Facilitating the Entry into Force
of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has issued an invitation to all States to attend the 2005 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The Conference is called for under Article XIV of the Treaty for the purpose of examining ways and means to accelerate the Treaty?s entry into force. It will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 21 to 23 September 2005. The Secretary-General?s invitation letter advises that he, as Depositary of the Treaty, has been requested to convene the Conference by a majority of States that have already deposited their instruments of ratification of the Treaty. The letter also advises that it is the wish of these States that the Conference be attended at a high level. All States, including States Signatories and States which have not yet signed, are invited to attend the Conference, as are specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations which have been granted observer status. In his invitation letter, the Secretary-General urges States to reaffirm their strong resolve and commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament in the Final Declaration to be adopted at the Conference. Article XIV of the Treaty states that if the Treaty has not entered into force three years after the date of the anniversary of its opening for signature, a conference may be held upon the request of a majority of ratifying States. Such a conference is held to examine to what extent the requirements for entry into force have been met and to decide on measures to accelerate the ratification process. Previous Conferences on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Treaty have been held in Vienna in 1999, in New York in 2001, and again in Vienna in 2003. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear weapon test explosions in any environment. Drafted at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and opened for signature on 24 September 1996, the Treaty must be ratified by 44 named States before it can enter into force. The Treaty has been signed by 175 States and ratified by 122. 33 of the 44 named States have so far ratified the Treaty. Regularly updated information on the 2005 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty will be available through the web site of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization at www.ctbto.org.

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