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Russia offers US extra nuke verification if it ratifies treaty
Russia on Sunday offered the United States new verification measures going far beyond its international obligations if Washington reverses its refusal to ratify a permanent ban on all nuclear tests.
Russia on Sunday offered the United States new verification measures going far beyond its international obligations if Washington reverses its refusal to ratify a permanent ban on all nuclear tests.
The offer came in a speech by a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a conference discussing the implementation of the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The United States, with the world's largest nuclear arsenal, has refused to ratify the CTBT and boycotted the three-day conference.
Its chair was empty when United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan opened proceedings with an appeal to 13 key states whose ratification is required for the CTBT to take effect.
“The terrorist attacks on the United States two months ago made it clear to everyone that we cannot afford further proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Annan said.
“We must do everything we can to reduce the risk of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists,” Annan said.
Bureau Report
The United States, with the world's largest nuclear arsenal, has refused to ratify the CTBT and boycotted the three-day conference.
Its chair was empty when United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan opened proceedings with an appeal to 13 key states whose ratification is required for the CTBT to take effect.
“The terrorist attacks on the United States two months ago made it clear to everyone that we cannot afford further proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Annan said.
“We must do everything we can to reduce the risk of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists,” Annan said.
Bureau Report