The 2011 Article XIV conference, facilitating the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization took place on September 23 during the United Nations General Assembly.
At this year’s biennial conference chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Mexico and Sweden, 19 countries were represented at Foreign Minister level. The Hungarian statement (available here) was delivered by Péter Sztáray,
Deputy Secretary of State for Security Policy. Similar to the last conference in 2009, entry into force, advancing the ratification process and the United States’ commitment to the organization were the most important results. Currently there are 155 state parties that have ratified the treaty and the constantly increasing ratifications make the CTBTO one of the most universally accepted treaties.
The statements, without exception stressed that due to the successful operation of the CTBTO the International Monitoring System -on of the three pillars of the organization- is most likely to be completed by the time the treaty enters into force. Many praised the Provisional Technical Secretary as well as the Executive Secretary, Mr. Tibor Tóth for their work.
