The new ratifications entered into law two days before the successful outcome of the
2010 NPT Review Conference, or on 26 May when they were presented at the United Nations headquarters in New York. On the eve of the Conference Indonesia had announced its intention to ratify the Treaty. During the Conference, four more CTBT signatories, Iraq, Papua-New Guinea, Thailand, and the United States, also declared their intention to move forward with their ratifications.
As the Conference gathered momentum, an exhibition illustrating the history of nuclear testing and the path to adopting the CTBT opened in the UN headquarters on 4 May. “Putting an end to nuclear explosions is more than the name of this exhibition – it is one of the longest-standing goals of the United Nations,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared.
Actor/producer and UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas said there was no reason “our children” should live in the shadow of “these terrible weapons.” His appeal that “the necessary steps can be taken now,” were echoed by Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who said that his country believed it could enhance its contribution to nuclear disarmament by acting now to begin the process of ratifying the CTBT.
In April when Natalegawa first announced his country’s decision Tóth said: “this underscores the leadership role of Indonesia in regional and global non-proliferation and disarmament efforts.”
The NPT Review Conference as well as breaking a decade of political deadlock adopted an action plan giving strong support for the CTBT, an outcome warmly received by Tóth.
Support for the Treaty in 2010 also came from the UN General Assembly, which gave strong endorsement of the CTBT. The Russian Federation and the United States introduced for the first time a resolution on bilateral strategic arms reductions including recognition for early entry into force of the CTBT. Earlier in the year the new Nuclear Posture Review released by the US clearly underlined the importance of the CTBT.
The 23 September
Joint Ministerial Statement
launched by Foreign Ministers at the Fifth Ministerial Meeting to promote early entry-into-force of the CTBT was another strong political message in favour of the Treaty. The CTBTO also deepened cooperation with its pool of partners. In February UNESCO and the CTBTO signed an agreement to enhance disaster mitigation efforts and capacity-building in developing countries.
In November support for the Treaty was voiced by Nobel Peace Prize laureates, at their meeting in Hiroshima. They urged the remaining nine countries, whose ratification will bring the CTBT into force, to act now.