Obama Praises Indonesia’s Intent to Ratify Test Ban Treaty

Washington — President Obama welcomed Indonesia’s announcement that it is initiating the process of ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), describing it as a signal that more countries are joining what he called “a renewed effort to reinforce global nonproliferation.”

Obama thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Indonesian government for “responsible leadership in the global effort to reinforce the nuclear nonproliferation regime” in a May 4 statement.

Indonesia’s announcement “advances the vision I outlined in Prague in 2009, and advances the security of the United States, Indonesia and the world,” the president said.

“Reinforcing the norm against nuclear testing will help prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and support our efforts to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” Obama said.

The United States has signed the treaty, which prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments for military or civilian purposes. However, the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified the treaty. In his statement, President Obama said his administration is committed to its ratification and its “early entry into force,” and will work with U.S. lawmakers.

The United States has observed a moratorium on nuclear testing since 1992, and has no plans to resume testing, U.S. officials said in April.

President Obama said the United States “stands ready to work with all states and encourages them to ratify the treaty and to help bring it into force.”

The CTBT has 182 signatories and has been ratified by more than 150 countries. However, it cannot enter into force until it has been ratified by 44 designated countries. Of these 44, India, Pakistan and North Korea have not signed it, and China, the United States, Israel, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia have not ratified it.

In his prepared remarks for the May 3 opening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference in New York, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his government’s decision follows positive developments that show countries “appear awakened to the urgency for nuclear disarmament.”

He cited the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed by the United States and Russia in April, as well as “positive aspects” stemming from the revised U.S. Nuclear Posture Review.

“We welcome these developments, and what we expect will be the further marginalization of nuclear weapons,” Natalegawa said. “Every step forward, no matter how small, should give us new momentum toward the next step so that we advance inexorably to our final goal of complete nuclear disarmament.”

“It is our fervent hope that this further demonstration of our commitment to the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation agenda will encourage other countries that have not ratified the treaty to do the same,” Natalegawa said.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)