September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

VIENNA, Sept 3: Signs that China may soon ratify a global nuclear test ban brought some hope to a conference on the 1996 treaty on Wednesday as diplomats urged the United States and North Korea to stop blocking its enforcement.

China “seems ready to ratify” the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Wolfgang Hoffmann, the secretary general of the three-day meeting, said.

“They seem ready to ratify. I got this impression from talks I had last July in Beijing with both sides, civilian and military,” he added.

China is one of 12 countries, including the United States, whose refusal to sign or ratify the treaty is preventing it from entering into force.

“The question is no longer whether China will sign the ratification document, but when,” a source close to the conference said. “If they do this, it will be a big step towards ensuring that the treaty enters into force.”

But diplomats warned that the treaty could yet collapse if Pyongyang and Washington — neither of whom sent delegates to the conference — continue to snub it.

The meeting opened with a plea from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for “all these states that have yet to sign or ratify the treaty to do so without delay”.

“Given the latest developments, I particularly direct this call to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), as well as to the other states whose ratification is needed for the treaty to enter into force,” he said in a message read to delegates.—AFP