Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

CTBT Article XIV Conference: Final Declaration

Vienna, 8 October 1999

Ratifiers and signatory States made the following appeals and undertakings:

• Called upon all States that had not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible and refrain from acts that would defeat its object and purpose in the meanwhile;
• Called upon all States that had signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification was needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their early successful conclusion;
• Recalled the fact that two States whose ratification was needed for the Treaty's entry into force but which had not yet signed it had expressed their willingness not to delay the entry into force of the Treaty, and called upon them to fulfil those pledges;
• Noted the fact that one State whose ratification was needed for the Treaty's entry into force but which had not yet signed it had not expressed its intention towards the Treaty, and called upon that State to sign and ratify it so as to facilitate the entry into force of the Treaty;
• Noted the ratification by two nuclear weapon States, and called upon the remaining three to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their early successful conclusion;
• Urged all States to sustain the momentum generated by the Conference by continuing to remain seized of the issue [of entry into force] at the highest political level;
• Agreed that ratifying States would select one of their number to promote cooperation to facilitate the Treaty's early entry into force, through informal consultations with all interested countries;
• Urged all States to share legal and technical information and advice in order to facilitate the processes of signature, ratification and implementation by the States concerned, and upon their request. Encouraged the Preparatory Commission for the CTBTO and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to support actively those efforts consistent with their respective mandates;
• Called upon the Preparatory Commission to continue its international cooperation activities demonstrating the benefits of the application of verification technologies for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Treaty's provisions, thus encouraging signature and ratification of the Treaty by the States concerned;
• Appealed to all relevant sectors of civil society to raise awareness of and support for the objectives of the Treaty, as well as its early entry into force as provided for in Article XIV of the Treaty;
• Reaffirmed their commitment to the Treaty's basic obligations and their undertaking to refrain from acts which would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty pending its entry into force;
• Remained steadfast in their commitment to pursue the efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime shall be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty at entry into force, in accordance with the provisions of Treaty Article IV, and declared that they would continue to provide the support required to enable the Preparatory Commission to complete its tasks.

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