THE GUN ROOM

East Timor Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

East Timor last week signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, increasing the membership in the pact to 180, United Press International reported (see GSN, Aug. 20).

Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta signed the treaty prohibiting testing of nuclear weapons. The pact is awaiting ratification by nine nations before it can enter into force.

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization is developing a network of 337 monitoring stations around the world for detection of nuclear-weapon detonations (United Press International/Middle East Times, Sept. 29).

Costa Rica yesterday said it is calling on all Latin American nations to ratify the treaty, the Associated Press reported.

Costa Rica hopes that Latin America will formally declare itself a nuclear-free zone during the nation’s two-year tenure leading the test ban treaty’s implementing organization, said Ana Teresa Dengo, Costa Rican ambassador to Austria.

While no nation in the region possesses a nuclear arsenal, Brazil said last month that it would build a nuclear-powered submarine. Brazil became a CTBT signatory in 1996 and ratified the agreement two years later.

Venezuela, which ratified the treaty six years ago, is constructing a nuclear reactor with Russian assistance, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday (see GSN, Sept. 26).

Nations in the region that have not signed the treaty include Cuba, Dominica, San Vicente, the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Guatemala has yet to ratify the agreement (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Sept. 30).