MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it sees a serious deterioration of the situation surrounding the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and has accused the United States of preparing for a possible resumption of these tests.
"Today, we have to acknowledge a serious deterioration of the situation around the CTBT. A quarter of a century after being opened for signature, the treaty has yet to come into force. The reason for this is the absence of the signature and/or ratification of the CTBT by the remaining eight countries upon which its enactment depends," the ministry said in a statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Russia's ratification of the CTBT.
"The most destructive stance in this regard is being pursued by the U.S., which has officially announced that it does not intend to ratify the CBTB, and is laying the groundwork for a possible resumption of nuclear tests," the ministry said in the statement.
"The nonproliferation and arms control regime is encountering some of the most serious challenges. All possible steps need to be taken to overcome these negative tendencies. Russia is calling on the abovementioned eight states, above all the U.S., to revise their position and give a green light to turning this treaty, which is crucial from the point of view of global security, into a full-fledged, working instrument of international law," it said.