The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation(CTBTO) has offered India an “Observer” status and access toInternational Monitoring System (IMS) data.
Addressing a group of Indian journalists at CTBTOheadquarters in Vienna Austria, Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo said,”I’m not asking India to ratify (the treaty)…I know that is not possiblenow…but I think giving India the opportunity to join as an observer could bea good starting point.”
CTBTO runs International Monitoring System (IMS) thatconstantly monitors the planet for nuclear explosions and shares findings withits member states. At present, IMS has 337 facilities, located in 89 countries.
“I think India will gain a lot with data that you don’thave access to now…Nowhere can you get this quality of data necessary forearthquake monitoring and following the radioisotope dispersion,” addedZerbo.
CTBT is a global treaty with the objective of banning allnuclear explosions across the world. In 1996, it was opened for signature afterbeing adopted by the UN General Assembly. However, the treaty has yet to comeinto force as it is considered “discriminatory” by several countries includingIndia.
India has not signed the treaty yet as it favours fivenuclear weapon states — China, US, Russia, France and UK. India wants thetreaty to have a clause on complete nuclear disarmament.
Although US and China have signed the treaty but they areyet to ratify it. Pakistan has also not signed the treaty as yet.
Zerbo pointed out that China has agreed to set up five IMSstations on its soil. Pakistan, he said, has joined the organisation as anobserver.
He has invited India to attend a science and technologyconference scheduled between June 24 and 28 in Vienna.