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GENEVA / DPRK NUKES CTBTO
STORY: GENEVA / DPRK NUKES CTBTO
TRT: 2: 03
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 25 APRIL 2018 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, podium Room III
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):
“Saying is one thing, but until we have a signature and the ratification by the DPRK, to basically solidify the verbal commitment already to cease testing and close the nuclear test site, I think nothing can be for sure, definite, or irreversible.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):
“I can only welcome and hope for best, and hope for better.”
6. Med shot, photographers
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):
“The ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Honorable Larijani told me “Look, Mr Zerbo, I have nothing against the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Iran has nothing, and this is why we are working with you guys. But you got to understand that, until we see the outcome of the JCPOA, Iran is not in the position to consider, not only the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, but any other agreement in arms control and non-proliferation”.”
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):
“I personally think that President Trump has the opportunity to do something major for the international community and then for the world. For it might be through this negotiation, doing something that no one has ever been able to achieve. If we open up a situation where the DPRK, through this process to rectify the CTBT, what a great deal, not only for us as an organization but for the international community.”
10. Close up, a journalist filming
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO):
“If South and North can talk today, why India and Pakistan would not create a situation where they would consider some agreement in arms control,that would join what the international community is expecting.”
12. Close up , journalist
13. Med shot, photographer
14. Med shot, journalists
15. Close up, journalist
North Korea’s recent announcement to suspend its nuclear and missile tests and shut down its Punggye-ri atomic test site has been welcomed by the head of the nuclear watchdog organisation CTBTO -- with the caveat that it should lead to a “sure, definite” and “irreversible” commitment to ban nuclear testing.
Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) told reporters in Geneva today (25 Apr) “I can only welcome and hope for best, and hope for better.”
Zerbo said “saying is one thing, but until we have a signature and the ratification by the DPRK, to basically solidify the verbal commitment already to cease testing and close the nuclear test site, I think nothing can be for sure, definite, or irreversible.”
Asked if the threat of U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) could endanger the North Korean nuclear negotiations, Zerbo expressed the hope that viable nuclear agreements in both Iran and DPRK could pave the way to a comprehensive ban of nuclear testing.
He made it clear, however, that based on his meeting with the speaker of Iran’s parliament Ali Larijani in Saint Petersburg in October 2017, there was no expectation that Iran would even consider joining the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty until there is clarity on the JCPOA.
He said “when I asked him about the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Honorable Larijani told me ‘Look, Mr Zerbo, I have nothing against the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Iran has nothing, and this why we are working with you guys. But you got to understand that, until we see the outcome of the JCPOA, Iran is not in the position to consider not only the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, but any other agreement in arms control and non-proliferation’. ”
At the same time, Zerbo held out the possibility that U.S.-DPRK nuclear negotiations could present a unique opportunity for U.S. President Donald Trump to make a lasting contribution to world peace.
He said “I personally think that President Trump has the opportunity to do something major for the international community and then for the world.”
Zerbo added “for it might be through this negotiation, doing something that no one has ever been able to achieve, that we open up a situation where the DPRK, through this process, ratify the CTBT - what a great deal! Not only for us as an organization, but for the international community.”
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT, bans all nuclear explosions. The Treaty will enter into force once signed and ratified by the remaining eight nuclear technology holder countries: China, Egypt, the DPRK, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and the United States.
According to Zerbo, signature and ratification by North Korea in the near future could create the conditions for others to join.
In reference to the upcoming meeting on Friday, between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Zernp said “If South and North can talk today, why India and Pakistan would not create a situation where they would consider some agreement in arms control, that would join what the international community is expecting?”
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