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Russia’s UN envoy doubts Security Council adopts resolution on nuclear tests ban

The Russian diplomat says the resolution should be adopted by consensus

UNITED NATIONS, September 22. /TASS/. The adoption by the United Nations Security Council of a resolution to support the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is in doubt, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the global organization Vitaly Churkin told TASS.

"The resolution is somewhat up in the air. There are members of the Council who object," Churkin said. "There’s no certainty that it will be adopted."

"Such a resolution should be adopted by consensus, and if two Council members - not us - have objections, it would be strange to vote," he said.

Adoption of resolutions with the call on countries to ratify the CTBT was scheduled for this week. The treaty, adopted in 1996, has been signed by 183 and ratified by 164 states members of the global organization, including Russia.

But the CTBT has not yet taken effect because eight countries, possessing nuclear weapons or capabilities to create it (Egypt, Israel, India, Iran, China, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States) have not joined it yet.

On September 6, the White House voiced its adherence to the CTBT and readiness to take additional steps in the direction of its ratification.