The United States, having taken a destructive position against the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), lays groundwork for resuming nuclear tests, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Russian Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Russia's ratification of the CTBT reads.
According to the Ministry, the document has not yet entered into force due to the fact that eight countries have not signed or ratified the Treaty. "The most destructive position in this regard is taken by the United States, which has officially announced that it does not intend to ratify the CTBT, and lays groundwork for resuming nuclear tests," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.
Moscow calls on states which did not ratify or sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to reconsider their stance.
"The non-proliferation and arms control regime faces the most serious challenges. Everything possible must be done to overcome negative trends. Russia calls on the above-mentioned eight States and, above all, the United States to reconsider their position and give the green light to turn this most important Treaty from the point of view of global security into a fully functioning international legal instrument," the text of the statement emphasizes.
The Ministry emphasizes that the entry into force of the CTBT may create "a barrier to the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons, preventing their proliferation."
As indicated in the Foreign Ministry, since the signing of the Treaty, Russia adheres to its obligations, and promoting its entry into force is one of the priorities of Russian foreign policy.
"Our country actively participates in the activities of the Preparatory Commission for the Treaty Organization, including the establishment of the verification mechanism of the CTBT. The second largest national segment of the International Monitoring System (IMS), one of the key elements of the verification mechanism of the Treaty, is being created on Russian territory. 28 of the 32 IMS stations envisaged in Russia have already been put into operation, " the text notes.
The CTBT prohibits the production of test explosions of nuclear weapons, as well as nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes. The ban applies to all areas (in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground) and is absolute and comprehensive. At the moment, the agreement has been signed by 183 countries, including Russia, but it has not yet entered into force, since the US and some other countries have not ratified it.
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Based on materials from TASS