PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY INITIATES FIRST SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS
Press Release
DC/2565
PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY INITIATES FIRST SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS
19961126 NEW YORK, 26 November (Centre for Disarmament Affairs) -- The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization initiated its first session at United Nations Headquarters from 20 to 22 November 1996. The Preparatory Commission, established at the conclusion of a meeting of States signatories to the Treaty on 19 November in New York, will carry out the necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the Treaty and prepare the first session of the Conference of States Parties.The Commission elected Jacob S. Selebi of South Africa as its Chairman for a six-month period, in accordance with the agreed principle of rotation among the six geographical regions. It also elected the following countries as vice-chairmen: Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. The following States were appointed to the Credentials Committee: Costa Rica, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Romania and Sweden.
The Commission adopted its agenda (CTBT/PC/I/1), provisional rules of procedures (CTBT/PC/I/2 and Corr.1), the provisional rules and regulations governing the financing of the Commission (CTBT/PC/I/1 and Corr.1), and the provisional rules and regulations for the administration of the future provisional Technical Secretariat of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBT/PC/I/8/Rev.1). The Commission also adopted the Host Country Agreement with the Government of Austria in connection with the future establishment of the Technical Secretariat, which will have its seat in Vienna (CTBT/PC/I/11 and Add.1).
Due to the lack of time to consider other agenda items, the Commission agreed to continue its work at a resumed first session on the following issues: provisional budget of the provisional Technical Secretariat for the first four months; the appointment of the Executive Secretary; the establishment of the necessary subsidiary bodies; and the adoption of the programme of work for the first four months.
The Preparatory Commission will resume its first session in Geneva from 3 to 11 March 1997, subject to the availability of conference services.
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