Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
62nd Preparatory Commission Meeting
Australian National Statement
Delivered by HE Mr Ian Biggs, Resident Representative to the CTBTO
24 June 2024
Chair
As this is the first session of the PrepCom under your leadership, let me extend Australia’s congratulations to you on assuming this position, and assure you of my delegation’s full support to you in carrying out your duties.
Let me also thank the Chairs of the working groups and the Advisory Group for their hard work in the lead-up to this meeting, and the Provisional Technical Secretariat for their crucial support for the work of the policy-making organs.
Chair
Australia warmly welcomes Papua New Guinea as the most recent ratifying state, and we are particularly pleased to have another member of our region join the Treaty.
We commend the outstanding efforts by Executive Secretary Floyd to bring the Treaty closer to entry into force. Australia continues to urge all States that have not yet signed and ratified the Treaty—particularly the remaining Annex 2 states—to do so without further delay.
Chair,
Australia deeply regrets that, as of last year, the number of remaining Annex 2 states has increased. This is a step in the wrong direction as we strive to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, and goes against the international community’s longstanding efforts to universalise this Treaty.
Chair
In this vein, we call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to sign and ratify the CTBT as a matter of utmost priority. We remain gravely concerned by the DPRK’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and repeated ballistic missile launches. We urge North Korea not to resume nuclear testing which would constitute a significant setback for regional stability and security.
Australia urges the DPRK to comply fully with the UN Security Council resolutions which require it to abandon its nuclear, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.
Australia continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. We reiterate our call for Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine, refrain from any acts that could jeopardise the integrity of the IMS and to continue to comply with all obligations under the CTBT. Australia’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering.
Chair
Australia is pleased to again co-Chair with Japan the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, which will be held this September during UN High Level Week in New York.
This meeting will serve to underline our collective commitment to the Treaty’s entry into force and the importance of the Treaty to the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture.
We also look forward to the upcoming second Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which will convene in Geneva next month. We see this meeting as a further opportunity to reaffirm the value and importance of the CTBT and demonstrate collective support for its early entry into force.
Chair
Australia fully believes that the CTBTO’s mandate is best served by a qualified, diverse, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage all States Signatory to actively assist the PTS in striving for this goal.
We warmly welcome the meaningful and measurable progress that continues to be made towards gender equality in the PTS. Australia remains committed to, and is an active advocate for, promoting and fostering equal opportunities.
We stand ready to support initiatives to address the underrepresentation of women in scientific and technological fields, which would simultaneously serve to strengthen the work of this technical organisation.
Chair
Australia supports the reports from the Working Groups that have been put forward for the Commission’s consideration, and we welcome the Provisional Technical Secretariat’s work in preparing the 2025 Budget Update Proposals: Initial Draft. While we appreciate efforts to find savings and efficiencies as we look ahead to the second year of the biennium, we must also make sure that these do not impact the PTS in continuing to effectively carry out its mandate throughout the biennium.
Finally Chair,
We welcome your confirmation that the Executive Secretary is available to serve a second term. Australia appreciates your effort to conduct a smooth process toward the renewal of his appointment for a second term, consistent with past relevant practices, at the next session of this Preparatory Commission. With these comments, Chair, we look forward to a productive meeting under your able leadership.