MEDIA ADVISORY - Simulated On-Site
Inspection of Fictitious Nuclear Test
Jordan, 1 to 12 November 2010
Inspection of Fictitious Nuclear Test
Jordan, 1 to 12 November 2010
Vienna, 22 October 2010
Journalists are invited to attend days one and eight of an exercise to simulate an on-site inspection of a fictitious / suspected nuclear test. It is to be conducted from 1 to 12 November 2010, beside the Dead Sea in Jordan. A team of more than 35 international experts has been assembled by the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). They will clarify whether a nuclear explosion was conducted by a fictitious country in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) that outlaws all nuclear explosions.
Jordan is hosting the exercise, to be played within a 1000 square kilometer area by the Dead Sea. The area is located about 50 km south of Amman and extends to Karak.
Accredited media are invited to attend:
1 November 2010: Opening of the On-Site Inspection Exercise:
The exercise will be officially opened at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, Jordan.
9.00 am, opening address by Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan and CTBTO Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth.
10.30 am, Press Briefing.
8 November 2010: Visit to the On-Site Inspection Area:
Photo-Op of the surrogate inspectors at work as they inspect sinkholes and other potential equivalent indicators of a nuclear explosion in the field. Interviews will be possible with experts in English and Arabic on site.
The convoy of surrogate inspectors and media to depart from the Dead Sea Spa Hotel at 9.00 am sharp to travel to the inspection area.
For media travelling from Amman, a bus will leave from Le Meridien, Queen Noor Street, Shemeisani, 11195, Amman at 8.00 am sharp on 1 and 8 November 2010. It will return at 1.30 pm. Lunch is provided.
ACCREDITATION
Journalists wishing to cover the event must email Pablo Mehlhorn or call +43 1 26030 6451 before 29 October 2010 stating which day(s) they will attend, and if transport from Amman is required.
Media Contact:
Kirstie Gregorich Hansen
T + 43 1 26030 6470
E [email protected]
M +43 699 145 965 72
Background on the CTBT and its verification regime
The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and underground. One hundred and eighty-two countries have signed the Treaty, of which 153 have also ratified it. Of the 44 countries that have to ratify the Treaty for entry into force, 35 have already done so. The remaining nine are: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States. On 3 May 2010, Indonesia stated it had initiated the CTBT ratification process.
The CTBTO is building a verification regime to monitor the planet for compliance with the Treaty. When complete, 337 facilities worldwide will monitor underground, the oceans and the atmosphere for any sign of a nuclear explosion. To date, 80 per cent of the monitoring facilities send data to the CTBTO’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, where the data are processed and analyzed and then transmitted to the 182 Member States.
On-site inspections can be dispatched to the area of a suspicious nuclear explosion if the data indicates that a nuclear test has taken place there. Inspectors will collect evidence on the ground at the suspected site. Such an inspection can only be requested and approved by Member States once the CTBT has entered into force.
Journalists are invited to attend days one and eight of an exercise to simulate an on-site inspection of a fictitious / suspected nuclear test. It is to be conducted from 1 to 12 November 2010, beside the Dead Sea in Jordan. A team of more than 35 international experts has been assembled by the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). They will clarify whether a nuclear explosion was conducted by a fictitious country in violation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) that outlaws all nuclear explosions.
Jordan is hosting the exercise, to be played within a 1000 square kilometer area by the Dead Sea. The area is located about 50 km south of Amman and extends to Karak.
Accredited media are invited to attend:
1 November 2010: Opening of the On-Site Inspection Exercise:
The exercise will be officially opened at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, Jordan.
9.00 am, opening address by Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan and CTBTO Executive Secretary, Ambassador Tibor Tóth.
10.30 am, Press Briefing.
8 November 2010: Visit to the On-Site Inspection Area:
Photo-Op of the surrogate inspectors at work as they inspect sinkholes and other potential equivalent indicators of a nuclear explosion in the field. Interviews will be possible with experts in English and Arabic on site.
The convoy of surrogate inspectors and media to depart from the Dead Sea Spa Hotel at 9.00 am sharp to travel to the inspection area.
For media travelling from Amman, a bus will leave from Le Meridien, Queen Noor Street, Shemeisani, 11195, Amman at 8.00 am sharp on 1 and 8 November 2010. It will return at 1.30 pm. Lunch is provided.
ACCREDITATION
Journalists wishing to cover the event must email Pablo Mehlhorn or call +43 1 26030 6451 before 29 October 2010 stating which day(s) they will attend, and if transport from Amman is required.
Media Contact:
Kirstie Gregorich Hansen
T + 43 1 26030 6470
E [email protected]
M +43 699 145 965 72
Background on the CTBT and its verification regime
The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, underwater and underground. One hundred and eighty-two countries have signed the Treaty, of which 153 have also ratified it. Of the 44 countries that have to ratify the Treaty for entry into force, 35 have already done so. The remaining nine are: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States. On 3 May 2010, Indonesia stated it had initiated the CTBT ratification process.
The CTBTO is building a verification regime to monitor the planet for compliance with the Treaty. When complete, 337 facilities worldwide will monitor underground, the oceans and the atmosphere for any sign of a nuclear explosion. To date, 80 per cent of the monitoring facilities send data to the CTBTO’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, where the data are processed and analyzed and then transmitted to the 182 Member States.
On-site inspections can be dispatched to the area of a suspicious nuclear explosion if the data indicates that a nuclear test has taken place there. Inspectors will collect evidence on the ground at the suspected site. Such an inspection can only be requested and approved by Member States once the CTBT has entered into force.
For further information on the CTBT, please see www.ctbto.org – your resource on ending nuclear testing,
or contact: Annika Thunborg, Spokesperson and Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E [email protected]
M +43 699 1459 6375
I www.ctbto.org Connect with CTBTO on facebook, twitter, flickr and youtube.
or contact: Annika Thunborg, Spokesperson and Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E [email protected]
M +43 699 1459 6375
I www.ctbto.org Connect with CTBTO on facebook, twitter, flickr and youtube.