Libya ratifies nuclear test ban treaty
In a new signal that Libya is serious about renouncing its weapons of mass destruction, UN officials said that the former rogue state has ratified the nuclear test ban treaty.
Libya’s nuclear programme was far from producing a weapon and the treaty is 12 short of the 44 ratifications needed for it to enter into force. Still, the announcement by the UN agency overseeing the agreement appeared to be a further sign of commitment by Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi to give up nuclear weapons ambitions.
The Vienna-based agency – known as the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Organisation – said that in ratifying the pact earlier this month, Libya agreed to host a monitoring station at Misratah. That would be part of a network of 337 stations being set up worldwide to verify compliance with terms of the treaty.
The nuclear test ban treaty is 12 nations short of the 44 ratifications needed for it to enter into force. Once it comes into force, the treaty bans any nuclear weapon test explosion in any environment.
Libya also has filed paperwork with the United Nations to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, obligating it to halt the development of banned weapons and destroy any stocks it currently holds, the chemical weapons watchdog agency said Wednesday.
