Holdouts Dim Prospects for Nuke Test Ban

[buzzsaw_23]

Holdouts Dim Prospects for Nuke Test Ban


Saturday September 24, 2005 12:01 AM

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The nuclear test ban treaty has been ratified by 125 countries, but after nine years its prospects of entering into force are grim because of 11 holdout nations - including the United States - whose support is essential.

Ratification by the 11 countries is required before the treaty takes effect and six boycotted a three-day conference, which ended Friday, trying to get them on board - including the United States, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Vietnam and Iran.

A declaration adopted unanimously by participants noted ``with concern'' that despite near universal support for the treaty, the goal of putting the treaty into operation remains elusive and distant because of the holdouts.

<snip>

To date, 33 of the 44 countries have ratified the treaty, but there are 11 holdouts - China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, United States and Vietnam. "This conference certainly put the spotlight on those 11 countries,'' U.N. Undersecretary-General for Disarmament Nobuyasu Abe told a news conference Friday. "Many speakers expressed impatience with excuses given by some countries for their failure to ratify.''

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5298689,00.html

[JesterCS]

1. Thats weird =D

China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, United States and Vietnam.

Amazing that the US and Israel are in a list with China, NK, Iran, and Vietnam