Mr. Chairman,

May I, at the outset, thank you for your kind invitation for me to participate in today’s meeting and for your initiatives as Coordinator in promoting the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.

Nuclear weapons are the dark legacy left by the Cold War.  But many of us have chosen not to live in its shadow.  Enshrined in the Constitution of my country is a strict prohibition against nuclear weapons.

In my region alone, from the Korean peninsula, to the Taiwan Straits, to the South China Sea and to South Asia, the specter of conflict with a decidedly nuclear dimension, hangs heavily over all our lives.

It is in this spirit that the Philippines joins efforts to prevent the further spread of these weapons and efforts that could lead to their eventual elimination.

The CTBT is an important part of these efforts.

We were at the CTBT’s difficult birth and continue to call for its early entry into force.

We welcome declared moratoria on testing but ask that these be enshrined through the CTBT.

The CTBT, with its verification and on-site inspection regime, is a major contribution towards the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.

The Philippines is part of the global network comprising the International Monitoring System (IMS) that can locate and characterize nuclear weapons tests.  The Philippines hosts three (3) Auxiliary Seismic Monitoring facilities as well as one (1) National Data Center and concluded a Facility Agreement for the operation and maintenance of these three facilities.

We strongly support the Joint Ministerial Statement on the CTBT calling for universal adherence to the CTBT. It signifies my country’s commitment to maintaining a stable and peaceful international and regional environment.

We call upon all States to refrain from pursuing programs that would undermine the CTBT pending its entry into force as well as the remaining twelve (12) States whose ratification of the CTBT is necessary to do so at the earliest possible date.

If we are to begin to break away from the legacy of fear and dread that dominated our bipolar world, if we are to live in an enlightened and safer world, we must redouble our efforts and bring this important and historic agreement into force.

Thank you.