BICOM

Israel will next week host a conference of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), the Vienna-based international body responsible for monitoring and regulating nuclear testing worldwide.

The treaty itself has been signed by 183 countries, including Israel, establishing a global inspection and verification system to identify nuclear tests. However, the treaty has not come into effect because 8 countries, including Israel and the United States have yet to ratify the treaty. CTBTO head Dr Lassina Zerbo has indicated though that Israel will soon do so, saying “The message I’m getting is not ‘if’ but ‘when’” Israel will ratify the treaty.

Next week’s conference in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv is expected to bring around 100 delegates together for five days. According to Maariv, those attending include citizens of Arab and Muslim countries with no existing diplomatic relations with Israel and so the Foreign Ministry has issued them with special travel and safety assurances. The conference itself is a follow-up to discuss the results of an experiment in Jordan in November, which tested the CTBTO’s ability to identify, monitor and evaluate nuclear testing. Israel has two stations for such a purpose at Eilat and Mount Meron plus a laboratory at Sorek. Next week’s conference will be followed by a workshop in Vienna in June.

Following November’s test, Zerbo commented, “We’ve now mastered all components of the verification regime.” Haaretz says that Zerbo has already discussed the results of the experiment with Merav Zafari-Odiz, Israel’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Zerbo is expected to meet next week with Israel’s Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz and the head of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission.