RESUMED FIRST SESSION OF PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR NUCLEAR TEST-BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION TO BE HELD IN GENEVA, 3-11 MARCH
Press Release
DC/2576
RESUMED FIRST SESSION OF PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR NUCLEAR TEST-BAN TREATY ORGANIZATION TO BE HELD IN GENEVA, 3-11 MARCH
19970228 Background Release GENEVA, 27 February (UN Information Service) -- The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) will resume its first session in Geneva from 3 to 11 March.The group began the session at United Nations Headquarters from 20 to 22 November 1996, but agreed to reconvene to continue work on certain agenda items, including the provisional budget of the provisional CTBT Technical Secretariat for the first four months; appointment of an Executive Secretary; and adoption of a programme of work for the first four months.
At the meetings in New York, the Preparatory Commission adopted a Host Country Agreement with the Government of Austria in connection with future establishment of the Technical Secretariat, which will have its seat in Vienna (CTBT/PC/I/11 and Add.1). Also, Jacob S. Selebi of South Africa was elected Commission Chairman for a six-month period, in accordance with an agreed system of rotation of that office among the six standard geographical regions. The following countries were elected in November to fill Vice-Chairmen's posts: Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. Countries appointed to serve on the Credentials Committee were Costa Rica, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Romania and Sweden.
The Preparatory Commission was established at the conclusion of a meeting of States signatories to the Treaty on 19 November 1996 in New York. Its task is to carry out preparations for effective implementation of the Treaty and to prepare for the first session of the Conference of the Parties.
Although signed by 142 countries, all of which can participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission, the CTBT has been ratified to date by only one -- Fiji.
The Treaty was drafted at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and adopted by the General Assembly on 10 September 1996.
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