Nuclear disarmament and Non-Proliferation

THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY (CTBT)

The CTBTO is the name given to the complex of bodies that have already or will come into being as a result of the opening for signature of the CTBT in September 1996.

The PrepCom is a committee of the whole composed of representatives of those countries that have signed the CTBT (States Signatories). The PrepCom first met in New York in November 1996 and has now set a pattern of regular meetings in Vienna, the CTBT’s designated Headquarters city. The principal task of the PrepCom is to organize and oversee the setting up the CTBTO in Vienna.

The CTBTO is responsible under the CTBT for constructing The International Monitoring System (IMS) and for operating the Treaty and its verification provisions once it has entered into force. The PrepCom is advised by two Working Groups, both of which also are open to all States Signatories.

Working Group "A" advises on legal and administrative matters. For example, so far they have developed model host country agreements, financial regulations, interim staffing regulations, an initial program and budget structure.

Working Group "B" advises on technical verification issues. It began by setting itself a large number of technical tasks related to the International Data Centre (IDC), the IMS and to On-Site Inspections (OSI).

Formal meetings of the Working Groups take place during PrepCom sessions, but they also meet separately between sessions to prepare material for the PrepCom and to respond to PrepCom requests. The Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) is established in Vienna in the interim before the CTBT enters into force to act as the Secretariat of the CTBTO. It thus constitutes its operational arm. Its mandate is to establish the verification system It is expected to have a staff of about 200 when fully operational. The Working Groups, via the PrepCom, establish the CTBTO’s budget. The PTS is organized in five divisions: administration, legal/external relations, OSI, IDC, and IMS.

Once the CTBT has entered into force, the PTS will become the Technical Secretariat which will have responsibility for operating the monitoring system. The CTBTO will then expand to include an Executive Council of 51 members drawn from six regions. The CTBTO will also take on functions related to dealing with suspected treaty violations and approving OSIs.