ctbto Spectrum

“... the CTBT will be alogical addition to the DPRKdenuclearization commitmentsunder the Six-Party Talks,particularly after the U.S.ratification is secured.”in office and pledged to work to rebuildbipartisan support for the Treaty.In a recent speech, John McCain alsoendorsed the concept by stating: “A quarterof a century ago, President Ronald Reagandeclared, ‘our dream is to see the day whennuclear weapons will be banished from theface of the Earth.’ That is my dream, too.”McCain voted against the CTBT in1999, stating at the time: “The viabilityof our nuclear deterrent is too central toour national security to rush approval of atreaty that cannot be verified and that willfacilitate the decline of that deterrent.”However, more recently, he has committedto continuing the moratorium on nuclearweapons testing that has existed since1992, and promised to take “another look”at the Treaty.In order to give effect to internationalarms control and disarmament agreements,States must bring their domestic law intoconformity with their obligations underinternational law. The need to implementnational measures was highlighted bythe adoption of UN Security CouncilResolution 1540 in April 2004. Thisresolution obliges States to enact andenforce effective laws and supportingmeasures to prevent the proliferation ofnuclear, biological and chemical weapons,related materials and their means ofdelivery, and toprohibit non-Stateactors, especiallyterrorists, fromdeveloping and usingsuch weapons.Costa Rica assumeda non-permanentseat at the UNSecurity Councilon 1 January 2008and as Chair of the Terrorism/Weaponsof Mass Destruction Committee underresolution 1540, it is strongly advocatingthe enhancement of international securityby improving transparency over andassessing the quality of States’ nationalimplementation of this resolution.Q: For the last two years, special meetingsof the Organization of American States (OAS)Committee on Hemispheric Security have beenconvened, to consolidate the nuclear-weaponfreezone in Latin America and the Caribbeanthrough the Treaty of Tlatelolco, and to promotethe full force and effect of the CTBT.One of the goals of the OAS is tostrengthen peace and security on the continent.As a fellow member of the OAS, what influencecan be exerted on the United States to ratifythe Treaty?A: With the welcomed ratification byColombia in January 2008, the United Statesis the only country from the OAS MemberStates listed in Annex 2 of the Treatywhose ratification is still outstanding.From the very beginning, Costa Ricahas sponsored the resolution in support ofthe CTBT, which has been approved bythe OAS General Assembly since 2000.We will continue to work together withother OAS members to exert pressureon the USA to consider ratification assoon as possible, particularly through theCommittee on Hemispheric Security.In this regard, it is very important toachieve the ratification of the remainingfive States from the Latin America andCaribbean region (singling out the USAas the only outstanding OAS MemberState whose ratification is still pending).The OAS special sessions have playedan important role in keeping the CTBT on thetable of international discussions, even at a timewhen the global situation was not so conduciveto its entry into force, and they have also servedas a lobbying platform. Further such sessionsshould serve to foster more synergy with otherWashington-based organizations/institutionsto create a stronger momentum within thepolitical arena in the USA, particularly inthe light of the upcoming elections andlater on with the new administration.Biographical notecontinues on next pageFirst elected aspresident of CostaRica in 1986and re-elected in2006, PresidentOscar Arias haswon internationalrecognition asa spokespersonfor developingnations and forpromoting democracy, human development,demilitarization and disarmament.President Arias played a pivotal rolein the signing of the Esquipulas PeaceAgreement, which led to the cessationof various conflicts in Central Americaduring the 1980s and for which he wasawarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. ■C T B T O S p e c t r u m 1 1 | S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8Pa g e