Mr. President,

On behalf of the delegation of Thailand, I would like to congratulate you upon your election as the President of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT. My congratulations are also extended to other Bureau members. In this connection, the delegation of Thailand would like to express its appreciation to the work of Mexico, as coordinator of informal consultations of state signatories during the preparatory process in Vienna which has contributed significantly to this Conference.
 

Mr. President,

The conclusion of the CTBT, in September 1996, after long negotiations, was a historic achievement and a milestone in global disarmament efforts. Once entered into force, the CTBT will constitute a strong reinforcement for both global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regimes, which have the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as their basis. A ban on nuclear testing is in line with Article VI of the NPT and will help prevent further development of nuclear arsenals, as well as constitutes an effective measure against states with nuclear aspirations from developing nuclear weapons of their own. It provides us with a big step towards our shared objective of a nuclear-weapon-free world. It is however regrettable that after five years have elapsed, the CTBT has not yet entered into force.
 

Mr. President,

Since we last met in Vienna in 1999, there has been some progress towards a universal CTBT. As of today, the status of signature and ratification of the Treaty currently stands at some 161 signatures and 79 ratifications. 31 out of the 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty have ratified the Treaty. This is a positive development. However, much remains to be done. Ratification by all 44 States listed in Annex 2, whose adherence to the Treaty is required for its entry into force, has to be achieved as soon as possible. In this regard, Thailand believes that the five Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS) have a special obligation to demonstrate their leadership in the effort to bring the CTBT into force. We would also like to urge countries listed in Annex 2, which have not signed the Treaty, to do so without delay.
 

Mr. President,

Thailand firmly believes that a means to achieving lasting international peace and security is to support the process of arms control and disarmament as well as non-proliferation of all types of weapons, especially nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. In our region, Thailand and other ASEAN countries have established the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) with the belief that it will contribute positively to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We hope that the Protocol to SEANWFZ Treaty will be signed and ratified by all NWS in the very near future. It certainly is complementary to the NPT.

For our part, Thailand signed the CTBT on 12 November 1996 and is expediting its effort to ratify and become a member of the CTBT family soon. Although Thailand is not yet a State Party to the CTBT, it has implemented measures contained in the Treaty and established the National Steering Committee on the Implementation of the CTBT. The Office of Atomic Energy for Peace of Thailand (OEAP) is acting as the national focal point. I am pleased to inform you that the OAEP has worked closely and cooperated constructively with the CTBTO/PrepCom. We are now in the process of setting up radionuclide monitoring station in Nakorn Prathom bordering Bangkok and a primary seismic monitoring station in Chiangmai in the North, as part of the International Monitoring System (IMS).
 

Mr. President,

Our work in Vienna was only the beginning. We must take further steps here in New York. But the road ahead is not easy. We must keep alive the momentum built by this Conference in order to achieve our noble goal. I would like to conclude by pledging Thailand's readiness to cooperate with others to ensure the success of this Conference and the early entry into force of the CTBT.

Thank you.