What is still needed, however, is a convincing verification regime. Together with a number of partners Germany will shortly be tabling a new initiative on this issue at the ongoing negotiations - The elimination of nuclear weapons is defined as a goal of the nonproliferation Treaty. Obviously this cannot be achieved at one stroke, but that is no reason to abandon the idea from the very beginning. One step of enormous practical and. No new tests spells no new weapons in effect.
Priority is to be given instead to non-proliferation and disarmament.
It is of the utmost urgency therefore that the Treaty enters into force as soon as possible. It has been ratified by 48 countries, including Germany in August last year. Above all those states whose instruments of ratification must under Article IV be deposited prior to the Treaty's entry into force are now called upon to do so. I appeal to India and Pakistan to sign the Treaty and honour the commitments they made to the UN General Assembly, and I call on North Korea to do likewise. At their Washington summit in April NATO Heads, of State and Government called for the early ratification of the Test-Ban Treaty.