VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE BEING CONSIDERED AS HEADQUARTERS FOR COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION
Press Release
DCF/270
IAEA/1306
VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE BEING CONSIDERED AS HEADQUARTERS FOR COMPREHENSIVE TEST-BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION
19960711 VIENNA, 11 July (UN Information Service) -- The Vienna International Centre, which now serves as headquarters to several United Nations offices and agencies, is being seriously considered as future headquarters of the secretariat for the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty that is currently in the final stage of negotiation in Geneva.The "Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization", as the new unit would be called, was the focus of a two-day inspection visit to the Vienna Centre this week by a delegation of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear Test Ban of the Conference on Disarmament.
The envisaged organization would have a staff of 250 to 300 persons providing technical and monitoring support for the treaty. It would be established when the treaty enters into force, following the resolution of a number of outstanding issues. Formal talks on the proposed treaty are due to resume on 29 July at the Conference on Disarmament.
During their visit, on 9 and 10 July, the 14 delegates from the Committee met with officials of the United Nations Office at Vienna, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for briefings on technical facilities and administrative and other services which could be utilized by the envisaged organization.
The delegation, headed by Charles Oleszychi, General Counsel of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, visited the Vienna Centre at the invitation of the Austrian Government, which has expressed interest in bringing the future body to Vienna. It will submit its observations to the Conference.
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