October 22, 2014

Admin. Continues Push for CTBT, Is ‘Working With’ Senate on Ratification

By ExchangeMonitor

In a continued effort to drum up support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller on Tuesday urged attendees of an address at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, to spread word about the agreement’s merits and the benefits of ratifying it. “We need to make sure that people know what the CTBT is and why it is important,” Gottemoeller said in remarks released yesterday by the State Department. “The most important thing that supporters of the CTBT can do is to educate their friends, their family and their communities on the reasons that the Treaty is good for America.” The CTBT, which would eliminate nuclear explosive around the world, was rejected by the Senate in 1999, and must be ratified by eight more nations—including the United States—to enter into force. In addition to Gottemoeller, other Obama Administration officials including Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz have publicly pushed for entry into force in recent months. Gottemoeller’s speech at Dixie State was the first address of a planned weeklong speaking tour at six venues in Utah and Massachusetts.

Later in the address, Gottemoeller added that while she and her colleagues are not defining a ratification timeline, they are “working with the Senate to re-familiarize members with the treaty.” She expressed optimism about future Senate considerations. “A lot of CTBT-related issues have changed since 1999, and the Senate has changed a lot since then, too,” Gottemoeller said. “It is up to us, as policymakers and experts before the American people, to practice due diligence in consideration of this Treaty. Ratification of this Treaty will require debate, discussion, questions, briefings, trips to the National Labs and other technical facilities, hearings and more, as was the case with the New START Treaty. Senators should have every opportunity to ask questions—many, many questions—until they are satisfied. That is how good policy is made and that is how treaties get across the finish line.”

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