Press Release M-NAC- 2(2000)121 Report on Options for Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs), Verification, Non-Prolife- ration, Arms Control and Disarmament December 2000

2. Developments over the Last Decade in the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons Environment 2.2. Nuclear Weapons 2.2.1. Multilateral Developments     2.2.2.2. CTBT Achieving entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was the first of the 13 practical steps toward nuclear disarmament agreed in the Final Document of the NPT Review Conference. It is an important piece of unfinished business on the NPT Agenda. Negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) between 1994 and 1996 and opened for signature in 1996, the Treaty prohibits any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion anywhere in the world. The CTBT will enter into force after ratification by the 44 states named in Annex 2 of the Treaty. A total of 13 Annex 2 ratifications are still outstanding, including those of India, Pakistan, and North-Korea which have yet to sign the Treaty. France and the UK ratified the Treaty in 1998. The United States has signed but not ratified the Treaty. All other Allies have signed and ratified the Treaty. Allies are committed to working to secure the necessary signatures and ratifications to achieve an early entry into force of the CTBT.