Malaysia Ratifies Test Ban Treaty

Malaysia yesterday ratified a global treaty banning nuclear test explosions, the treaty’s implementing organization announced (see GSN, Jan. 15).

The nation’s membership brings the total number of treaty ratifications to 143 — it has been signed but not ratified by another 35 countries — but the pact’s prospects for taking effect remain distant.  Ten key nations have yet to ratify the document and allow it to enter into force (see GSN, Sept. 18, 2007).

Still, Malaysia’s participation would be significant, said one top official.

“This is very important internationally, but also regionally: Malaysia’s ratification tips the balance in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations where six out of 10 countries now have ratified the treaty,” said Tibor Toth, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, in a press release (Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization release, Jan. 18).

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