(LONDON) A new study on the monitoring and verification system of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) concludes that global compliance with the treaty can be verified. The report, which was released today by the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC), an independent, London-based research organisation, also calls on the international community to reaffirm its commitment to secure the additional signatures and ratifications needed for the entry into force of the treaty. The failure of key states, including the US, to sign and ratify the CTBT will be the focus of criticism at the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, which begins Monday in New York.

The report, Fulfilling the NPT: A Verifiable Test Ban, examines progress made in implementing the treaty's monitoring and verification provisions over the last three years. The study concludes that even now it would be difficult for a state to evade the International Monitoring System. The authors conclude that the verification system's capabilities will only continue to improve as more monitoring stations are established, and as long as political and financial support for the treaty's verification mechanism can be maintained.

The report's authors call upon the NPT Review Conference "to identify the states responsible for the delay of the entry into force of the CTBT and reaffirm support for the treaty and the establishment of its verification regime." So far, 155 states have signed the treaty, which bans "all nuclear weapon test explosions and all other nuclear explosions." The CTBT would impede development of new nuclear warhead types and help to prevent new nuclear arms races. There are 16 more states - including the US, India, Pakistan, and China - that must ratify before the CTBT enters into force. So far, France and the United Kingdom are the only nuclear weapon states that have signed and ratified. The Russian Duma is expected to vote on the CTBT this week, and, if it approves ratification, Russia would be the 56th state to ratify.

"Duma approval of the CTBT would signify that timely treaty implementation is still within reach and send a good signal to the NPT Conference," said Trevor Findlay, Executive Director of VERTIC and a co-author of the study. "Russian ratification of the CTBT, would demonstrate greater commitment to the treaty and its verification system by the state with the largest nuclear arsenal. Russia will host 31 of the planned 321 monitoring stations," Findlay added.

"The NPT Review Conference must make clear that a ban on nuclear tests is still very high on the international agenda," added Findlay. The NPT was extended indefinitely in 1995 largely on the basis of the pledge by all states to conclude the CTBT.

"Signatory states and ratifiers should reaffirm their commitment to the CTBT and in the Final NPT Conference Document and maintain the technical and financial support to complete the treaty's robust international verification system," he urged.