Interview: CTBTO chief believes broader context of nuclear security needed

The international community should not only focus on a very narrow context of nuclear security, many interlinked key aspects like nuclear non-proliferation, arms control should be taken into account over the nuclear security issue, the framework should be more inclusive, the chief of CTBTO told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"(The nuclear security summit) It's about securing nuclear infrastructure and nuclear material from getting on the hand of terrorist. Is this the only aspect we should look into? Should we look at only this in a very narrow context, or should we see in the context of arms control, nuclear non-proliferation? How the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) fixes into the picture?" Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization(CTBTO) questioned.

Concerning the nuclear security summit held in Washington this week, the CTBTO chief noted the context of the framework should be more inclusive, letting the CTBTO to play a more important role in the context, unfortunately the CTBTO was not invited to the summit.

The CTBT is a multilateral treaty by which states agree to ban all nuclear explosions in all environment, however, up to now, the CTBT has not entered into force.

The CTBTO is a Vienna based international organization under the CTBT, monitoring the possible nuclear explosions in the world to secure the regime of the CTBT, a key aspect of nuclear non-proliferation.

Expecting the entry into force of the treaty, the organization now is still called a preparation commission.

However, Zerbo said that would not stop the monitoring regime of the CTBT.

The organization has been building its monitory system worldwide continuously to monitor the possible nuclear tests, and it said it has successfully reported the latest nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Over 90 percent of the CTBTO infrastructure from the international monitoring system design has been finished, and is effectively covering the world today.

In his eye, less nuclear weapon tests are been carried out as countries know that no one could do a secret nuclear test without being detected, and that's the role that the CTBTO is playing in the regime.

According to the CTBTO, over 90 percent of the world is saying "no" to nuclear testing.

The CTBTO head said if the framework of nuclear security includes the arms control, nuclear security, nuclear non-proliferation, his organization already has a role indeed.

"We should move from the narrow context to a more global framework, this is my most concern and this is my message ... I think it has to be all inclusive we can not only focus on nuclear material and nuclear infrastructure without taking all this in the framework of arms control, non-proliferation," he said.

"If we are called to play a role, we would be able to play," he added. Endit