India, 8 other countries asked to ratify CTBT

UNITED NATIONS: A conference on disarmament today pressed nine countries, including India, which have not yet signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to ratify the agreement to ensure that it can come into force.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who co-chaired today's session, appealed to the nine states which have yet to ratify the pact to do so so the treaty can come into force.

"With their ratification, they will send a message of hope by strengthening the international non-proliferation regime and collective security," he said.

In a statement, the 150 countries which have ratified the CTBT said they reaffirm that the ultimate objective of the efforts of states in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

"We call upon all states which have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the Treaty without delay, in particular, those States whose ratification is needed for entry into force," the statement said.

North Korea, India and Pakistan have not signed the treaty, which bans any nuclear blasts for military or civilian purposes, while six countries, the United States, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, China and Egypt have signed but not ratified the pact.