

MEDIA RELEASE

Senator Lyn Allison

Australian Democrats

Spokesperson on nuclear issues

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October 12, 1999Â 99/536

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US urged to ratify nuclear test ban

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The Australian Democrats today urged the United States Senate to ratify 
the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ba n Treaty (CTBT) in the interests 
of international peace and security.

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Democrats spokesperson on nuclear issues, Senator 
Lyn Allison, today gave notice of a motion in the Australian Senate, 
to be voted on tomorrow, calling on the US to ratify the CTBT. Republicans 
dominate the US Senate and harbour reservations about nuclear arms control 
and the nuclear test ban.

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“If the US fails to ratify the CTBT it sends a disturbing 
signal to the worlds’ other nuclear weapon states, namely that they 
can test their weapons without any restraint or consequences. It is 
crucial for international peace and security that the US Senate ratifies 
the CTBT,” Senator Allison said.

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Senator Allison said that nuclear explosive tests 
are not needed to maintain the US nuclear weapons arsenal, with non-nuclear 
tests and evaluations fulfilling this role. However, nuclear weapons 
test explosions are needed to confirm new types of two-stage, thermonuclear 
warheads and radically new designs of nuclear weapons, such as the nuclear 
explosion-pumped X-ray laser.

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“The Test Ban Treaty makes it much harder for the 
countries with advanced nuclear weapons, including Russia and China, 
to produce new and more threatening types of nuclear warheads,” Senator 
Allison said.

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Senator Allison said the Treaty also helps prevent 
nations with smaller arsenals — such as India and Pakistan - and nations 
seeking nuclear arms — such as Iran and Iraq - from making advanced, 
compact nuclear warheads, which are more easily deliverable by ballistic 
missiles.

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“The CTBT helps to block dangerous nuclear competition 
and new nuclear threats from arising, which enhances US and global security,” 
Senator Allison said.

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“The International Atomic Energy Agency describes 
the CTBT as one of the ‘the cornerstones of the international regime 
on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons’ and as an ‘essential 
foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament’. Australia’s 
role in international nuclear disarmament diplomacy would be seriously 
compromised if the US does not ratify the CTBT.”

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Senator Allison welcomed news that US President Bill 
Clinton and the Republican majority in the Senate were seeking a politically 
expedient way to postpone the vote on the treaty rather than see it 
defeated.

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She said she hopes Australian Senators go beyond party 
politics and provide unanimous support for her non-controversial motion.

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Contacts: Justin O’Brien on 0411 473 697, Senator 
Lyn Allison 015 691 512

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lkÂ  1999-10-14Â  10:01

