INSTRUCTION: VOTE NO ON UN-CTBT COOPERATION

1. (U) Voting Instruction: U.S. representatives should not
participate in discussions on this resolution, but should
nonetheless continue our past practice of voting against this
resolution. U.S. delegation should call for a vote if no
other delegation does so.



2. Background: The U.S. Senate in 1999 declined to give its
advice and consent to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT). The Administration does not support the CTBT
and does not intend to seek Senate advice and consent to its
ratification. The United States continues to observe its
nuclear testing moratorium and encourages other states not to
test. The U.S. has continued to work, as appropriate, with
working groups of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission (PrepCom)
and with its Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) on
issues pertaining to the IMS. In meetings of the Preparatory
Commission the U.S. has viewed cooperation with the UN as
outside the scope of its involvement with the CTBTO PrepCom.
Resolution 61/47 noted reports by the UN Secretary General on
cooperation with the PrepCom and by the PrepCom Executive
Secretary. It put the item on the agenda of the 63rd UNGA.
The resolution passed the General Assembly with a vote of
(133-1(U.S.)-0). Fifty-seven States were absent from the
vote.
RICE