Conference goal: comprehensive test ban.

• Position: UN Conference on Disarmament; nuclear weapon test ban - Includes related article on significance of 1963 treaty

In what was called a "major turning-point" in multilateral efforts towards totally Prohibiting nuclear testing, the Conference on Disarmament on 10 August decided to begin negotiating a comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty.

Expressing hope for an early conclusion of a new multilateral agreement, Conference President Jose Perez Novoa of Cuba said the accord should be "internationally verifiable" and could count on "universal adherence".

That would contribute effectively to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, to the process of nuclear disarmament, and thus to the enhancement of international peace and security, the Conference agreed (CD/1212).

To achieve that goal, such a treaty must be "multilaterally negotiated", it was stressed. "As the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community", the Conference felt it was the appropriate body to do the job.

The Ad Hoc Committee on a Nuclear-Test Ban - initially established in 1982 to discuss and define issues of verification and compliance relating to a comprehensive test-ban treaty - was given a mandate by the Conference to negotiate such an instrument. Consultations were to be held before the Conference's next session, scheduled to begin on 17 January 1994.

Three-part session

The 1993 session of the Conference, which took place in Geneva, was held in three parts-19 January to 26 March, 10 May to 25 June, and 26 July to 3 September.

Three more ad hoc committees dealt with prevention of an arms race in outer space, effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and transparency in armaments.

Other agenda items included: cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament; prevention of nuclear war; new types and systems of weapons of mass destruction; radiological weapons: and a comprehensive programme of disarmament.

The 38-member Conference consists of five nuclear-weapon States-China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States - other militarily significant States, and neutral and non-aligned countries which form the "Group of 21".

During the session, members recognized the urgency of expanding the Conference and recommended that its membership be granted to 23 more States: Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Finland, Iraq, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea...