India, Pakistan signal move to join Treaty
Two years ago President Clinton became the first world
leader to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, first proposed by President
Eisenhower over 40 years ago. In that time, 150 states have signed the historic
treaty, including all of our NATO allies, Russia, China, Israel, Japan, and South
Korea. Twenty states have already ratified the CTBT, including Britain, France,
Germany, Australia, and Brazil.
President Clinton said in a statement released yesterday, “It is my strong hope
that India and Pakistan will join the list, and thereby reduce nuclear tensions in
South Asia. I discussed this with Prime Minister Sharif on Monday and I welcome
his commitment yesterday to adhere to the treaty by next fall. I look forward to
further discussion with the leaders of Pakistan and India as we emphasize our
common obligation to build peace and stability.”
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At the United Nations General Assembly this week, both India and Pakistan
signaled their willingness to join the Treaty before a review conference in
September 1999, so that the Treaty would be able to enter into force.
The President’s statement continues: “Today also marks the thirty-fifth
anniversary of the Senate bipartisan vote, 80-19, to approve the Limited
Test Ban Treaty, which President Kennedy considered his greatest accomplishment
as President. In 1963, Senate approval of the LTBT took place less than two
months after it was signed and within seven weeks of its submission to the
Senate. Contrast that with the CTBT. A year after it was submitted, the
Senate has yet to take any action toward ratification.
“The CTBT will ban all nuclear weapons explosions. As a result, it will
constrain the development of more sophisticated and powerful nuclear weapons
and give us a powerful new tool in the fight against the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction. The American people understand
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