#4 - RW 272
RUSSIA FOR NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

VIENNA, September 4, 2003. (RIA Novosti correspondent Borislav Pechnikov). - Russia is for the earliest ratification of, and coming into force the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Russian chief delegate Grigori Berdenikov said at a Thursday conference of the treaty member-states in Vienna.

According to the Russian diplomat, an alarming situation is shaping around the prospect of this crucial treaty coming into force. Seven years have passed since the treaty's becoming open for signing. It has been signed by the sweeping majority of countries and ratified by 104 states, but remains a "hostage of political will of 12 states only, he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Moscow is sure that the earliest coming into force of this treaty and its assuming a comprehensive character is in line with the national interests of all states without exception, the Russian chief delegate said in Vienna.

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