FM Review, May 6, - Meeting with executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Tibor Toth in New York, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Estonia supports the work of the CTBTO in building up a verification regime for nuclear testing.

Paet stated that an effective monitoring system helps to achieve security regarding the appropriate use of nuclear energy and nuclear testing. “Uniting the restriction of nuclear arms and the ban on nuclear testing is necessary to increase the nuclear safety of the world, but it must happen alongside global security measures with monitoring systems being made more effective,” said Paet. “Building up the system will hopefully give additional security to nations that have not yet joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It is essential that the international community be provided with information on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” noted the Estonian foreign minister.

During his meeting with Toth, Paet confirmed that Estonia as an European Union member state actively supports the role of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in restricting nuclear testing and in its monitoring work. Estonia also supports the work done to persuade countries to join the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

The Comprehensive Nuc-lear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signing in 1996. Estonia signed the agreement and it was ratified by Riigikogu in 1999. The treaty will come into effect six months after it has been ratified by all 44 nations that possessed nuclear capability at the time of its creation.