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Tibor Tóth on Perspectives on Proliferation

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About this Event

23 Mar 2010 @ 12:45

Perspectives on Proliferation: Prospects for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 2010

Download the Audio Podcast of this event here

About the Event:

Ambassador Toth provided an overview of the role of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) within the global non-proliferation regime. The most recent CTBT Article XIV Conference in September 2009 was addressed by nearly forty Ministers and attended by the representatives of 106 states, reflecting renewed interest and determination in facilitating the entry into force of this important instrument in the global non-proliferation regime.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Toth acknowledged the role that Ireland has played in strengthening the non-proliferation regime through various forums. He also emphasised the renewed commitment of the United States to non-proliferation efforts under the Obama administration.

Ambassador Toth discussed what the CTBTO Preparatory Commission is trying to do.

One of its main achievements has been the construction of the verification regime – 80% of which is now in place. The CTBT’s system is unique among verification systems. Information is being gathered from the territories of ninety countries, and is shared in real-time, with over 1,200 institutions across the member states.  

The collection and distribution of data to members of the CTBTO has tripled in the last five years, and important advances in analytical methods have been made. The system will not officially come into operation until entry into force occurs, but this all-inclusive verification system is in place.  

There has also been great political investment by a large number of parties to the Treaty, with the 150th ratification occurring in 2009. Counties are investing not only political capital but also scientific capital through the contribution of experienced personnel including many thousands of scientists. This is viewed by Ambassador Toth as an investment in the potential of the CTBT, a Treaty that he calls the “glue” holding many parts of the non-proliferation regime together. 

He also expressed his belief in the significant progress that the CTBT can make, not only in addressing the threat of proliferation, but also in addressing various regional conflicts. According to the World Economic Forum, many of these conflicts have a nuclear weapons footprint in their history, for example the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The CTBT offers these countries the opportunity to regulate the nuclear nexus of their problems as an alternative to an open-ended nuclear competition.

About the Speaker:

Tibor Tóth has served as Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) since 2005. He has in-depth experience in the field of arms control and disarmament, having served at various stages as Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva and the Conference on Disarmament; Ambassador-at-Large for Non-proliferation and Critical Technologies with the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hungarian Deputy State Secretary of Defense in charge of international affairs; and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the Preparatory Commission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.

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