![[Cover]](back.gif)
By: J Truman
August 20, 1996
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) today concluded its negotiations on a Test-ban today after approved a final status report which includes their failure to reach a consensus on a formal treaty text. The report will be sent to the United Nations General Assembly in September. The report came after India rejected the draft treaty text a final time, preventing it from being sent directly to the U.N. India's actions amounted to a formal veto of the treaty.
With the acceptance of the CD's final report the battle over a global Test-ban now moves from Geneva to the floor of the United Nations. Supporters of the Treaty, namely the United States will now have to develop new strategies to by pass India's veto and attempt to bring the matter before the U.N. While some diplomats express the belief that means will be found to accomplish that and that there will be a Test-ban signing at the U.N. in September, others worry that this is just the start of a protracted battle whose outcome is anything but certain.
In a statement released by the United States Information Agency today, Stephen J. Ledogar, Chief U.S. negotiator at the CD talks blasted India's reasons for blocking the treaty as nonsense. Ledogar accused India of blocking the treaty only, "to maintain the nuclear weapons option." Ledogar also went on to discuss the strategies the U.S. and others would take over the next few days to try and bring the Test-ban to the U.N.
Ledogar stated that,"The international community committed itself to having the treaty opened for signature in September," Ledogar said. "That is still the objective of all of us, except India, so we are going to have to move very smartly." Ledogar went on to saw that actions in this direction would be taken, "Within the next few days, absolutely."
The Ledogar statement went on to outline two strategies being explored to accomplish this,"Discussions are now focusing on two different scenarios for allowing the treaty to be opened for signature by the nations of the world,Ledogar said. Under the "single hijack" scenario, he noted, the treaty would be passed "out the side door" of the CD to the General Assembly. Alternately, he said, a "double hijack" scenario would bypass both the CD and the United Nations and call an international conference to consider the treaty. "There are pros and cons to either one of the options, and we are working very hard with the others to try to work out the most advantageous course," Ledogar said.
While the U.S. and others may believe they will have easy sailing bringing the treaty to the full U.N. others are not so sure. Pakistan has steadfastly maintained that if India refuses to sign the treaty, neither will they. China has also stated that it will not support the treaty without India's acceptance and signing of it. Even Russia has expressed major concerns about signing a treaty without the involvement of India.
Within the next several days it should become more clear as to what course treaty supporters will take and what pitfalls may be placed in their path. The important point to keep in mind is that the situation is far from settled, and even if the treaty wins support and is signed at the U.N. its ratification is far from certain, even by the United States.
This point was brought out by Ms. Arundhati Ghose, India's ambassador to the CD Talks in an interview with the "DECCAN HERALD" in Bangalore, India this morning when she pointed out, " also remember that the US Congress is Republican. And the Republican platform is against it. I cannot see this Congress ratifying this (the treaty). In 3 years, 5 years, 10 years... And yet we know that if the US does not ratify, the other four will not."
For more information on the current status of the Test-ban debate and more details on what has happened in the last few days, and what is likely to happen over the next weeks review the following resources: Transcript of Ambassador Ledogar's briefing for reporters at the CD talks. United States Information Agency report on CD Chairman Ramaker's pledge that a Test-ban will be signed. Greenpeace International updates and statements on CD Talks. August 20, 1996, August 16, 1996, August 12, 1996, Physicians For Social Responsibility update on the current status of the CD Talks.