This site is an archive. Please visit our current site http://www.ngocongo.org

(Back to Peace, Vienna home)

NEWS

Dear NGO colleagues,

Since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, has so far not been ratified by all states required to do so and has therefore not entered into force, a conference of states to consider measures to accelerate the ratification process and to facilitate early entry into force of this important Treaty will be held 3 to 5 September 2003 in Vienna.

It is being proposed that NGOs may attend this Conference, i.e. to observe open meetings, to receive the documents and to make available written contributions to the participating delegations. A representative chosen from the NGOs attending is expected to be given the opportunity to present a statement of NGOs to the Conference.

NGOs wishing to attend the Conference are requested to inform the Secretariat by sending a letter (from their NGO headquarters) listing the names of persons who will represent their NGO at the Conference. Such letters should be sent - not later than 25 August - to :

Christian Evertz
CTBT Prep Com, VIC Room E 0773
PO Box 1200, A 1400 Vienna
Fax: 00431 26030 5823, e-Mail: Christian.Evertz@ctbto.org
It would be appreciated if copies of such letters are sent to the undersigned.

The CTBTO Preparatory Commission, which is taking on functions of the
Confernece Secretariat, has suggested that the NGO Committees on
Disarmament in New York and Geneva and the NGO Committee on Peace,
Vienna. together coordinate the NGO activities at the Conference in
September. The contact persons are as follows:

New York:
Ms Rhianna Tyson
Womens International League for Peace and Freedom
777 UN Plaza, 6 th floor, New York 10017
tel: ++1 212 682 1265, fax: ++1 2132 286 8211
Rhianna@reachingcriticalwill.org

Geneva:
Mr Aaron Tovish, Geneva NGO Committee on Disarmament
tel: ++41 79 775 5057
aaron.tovish@bluewin.ch

Vienna:
Prof Thomas Schoenfeld
Chairperson, NGO Committee on Peace, Vienna
Kudlichgasse 27 /14, A 1100 Vienna
tel ++431 20 44 765, ++43 676 701 6006 (mobile)
Thomas.Schoenfeld @univie.ac.at

There is also an internet discussion group on the NGO statement wich you can join:
ctbtconference-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Contributions are then to be sent to:
ctbtconference@yahoogroups.com. Exchanges for drafting the joint statement of NGOs to the Conference are now under way. The definite text will be agreed by the NGO Representatives at the opening of the Conference in Vienna.

If you are not planning to have a representative at the Conference but would consider joining the list of NGOs supporting the statement, please notify the undersigned so that the draft text of the statement is sent to you.

If you have printed material which you consider of interest to the delegations at the Conference, you are requested to contact the undersigned so that arrangements can be made to place this material on the tables which will be reserved for information from NGOs at the Conference.

I would like to close with a modified form of the last sentence of the statement of NGOs to the analogous Conference in 2001: Let us use all chances to end nuclear testing forever, as an indispensable step towards eliminating nuclear threats and preventing nuclear war.

Prof Thomas Schoenfeld
Chairperson, NGO Committee on Peace, Vienna

Meetings on the following topics are now being planned (dates to be announced): the Eight-Nation-initiative for nuclear disarmament; education for non-violent behavior; international organization and relief work for refugees; progress in making the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty effective.

On the basis of discussions in the Committee, some statements on important current issues were sent to personalities or institutions. The statements were drafted by the Board of the committee and were sent in the name of the board or were signed by NGO representatives wishing to express concurrence. Issues dealt with were: the elimination of nuclear weapons; achieving a ban of anti-personnel land mines; a fourth Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to Disarmament; possibilities of NGOs to support efforts for establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones.

(Back to Peace, Vienna home)