Turkey welcomes the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT) by Indonesia and congratulates the Indonesian Government for taking this significant step which will bring  the CTBT closer to its entry into force. We hope that this positive development will  encourage ratification of the CTBT by the remaining eight Annex II States, whose ratification is required for the Treaty’s entry into force.

The CTBT was adopted at the UN General Assembly in September 1996 following long and laborious negotiations, with an overwhelming majority.  The Treaty enjoys today a near universal status with 182 signatures and 155 instruments of ratification deposited with the UN Secretary-General. A strong political will to pursue the objectives and implement the provisions of the CTBT has been generated by the states Parties over the years. Already before its entry  into force, the Treaty’s effectiveness has proven itself  as   a major building block in the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime.

Turkey, as one of the fourty four Annex II countries, signed the Treaty the day it  was opened for signature on 24 September 1996 and concluded its ratification procedure in February 2000. Since the inception of the CTBT, Turkey has honoured and in the future will continue to live up to its political, financial and technical commitments under the Treaty. We will continue actively support efforts towards the early entry into force of the CTBT.