EU Presidency Statement - Nuclear Weapons

Mr. Chairman,

I am pleased to speak on behalf of the European Union on draft resolution L52 entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty". The Acceding Countries (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia), the Associated Countries (Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey) and the EFTA Countries of Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this general statement.

During the general debate on the first day of this year's session of the First Committee, I had the opportunity on behalf of the European Union to express the views of the EU regarding the CTBT, underlining that the EU spares no efforts in promoting the early entry into force of the CTBT and universal accession to it. With a view to the third Conference to facilitate the entry into force of the CTBT which took place in Vienna, on 3 - 5 September, the EU - on the basis of its renewed common position -has carried out demarches in 74 countries. We welcome that Algeria -as one of the countries named in annex 2 to the Treaty - has deposited its instruments of ratification before the Conference. To ensure that the resolve of the international community does not weaken, the EU continues to call on all those States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the CTBT, without delay and without conditions, in particular those States whose ratification is required for the Treaty to enter into force. It is with this in mind that the European Union expresses its full support for the rapid establishment of the verification regime through all its elements.

This, Mr. Chairman, is the reason why the EU is in full support of draft resolution L.52 which has been co-sponsored by all EU Member States.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Nuclear Weapons (18/10/2004)