Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (Partial Test Ban Treaty)

Full Text: http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/ltbt1.html

Each party agrees to prohibit, prevent, and not carry out any nuclear explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control in the atmosphere, in outer space, under water, or in any other environment if such an explosion causes radioactive debris to be present outside the limits of the state which is conducting the test. The parties will also refrain from causing, encouraging, or in any way participating in such a test. Public interest in a test ban dated from a 1952 incident in which tests conducted by the United States accidentally contaminated a Japanese fishing vessel. A major sticking point, one that would resurface during debate on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, was verification. A 1958 report of experts in Geneva on the ability of an international system to effectively detect a test in violation of the treaty succeeded in paving the way for the completion of the treaty. The treaty applies to peaceful explosions as well because of the difficulty in differentiating between a peaceful and a military test.

Opened for signature August 5, 1963. Entered into force October 10, 1963.

Parties and years of ratification: Afghanistan (1964), Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina (1986), Armenia, Australia (1963), Austria (1964), Bahamas (1976), Bangladesh (1985), Belarus (1963), Belgium (1966), Benin (1964), Bhutan (1978), Bolivia (1965), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana (1968), Brazil (1964), Bulgaria (1963), Burkina Faso, Burma (1963), Burundi, Cameroon, Canada (1964), Cape Verde (1979), Central African Republic (1964), Chad (1965), Chile (1965), Colombia (1985), Costa Rica (1967), Cote d’Ivoire (1965), Croatia (1964), Cyprus (1965), Czech Republic (1963), Denmark (1964), Dominican Republic (1964), Ecuador (1964), Egypt (1964), El Salvador (1964), Ethiopia, Fiji (1972), Finland (1964), Gabon (1964), Gambia (1965), Germany (East: 1963, West: 1964), Ghana (1963), Greece (1963), Guatemala (1964), Haiti, Honduras (1964), Hungary (1963), Iceland (1964), India (1963), Indonesia (1964), Iran (1964), Iraq (1964), Ireland (1963), Israel (1964), Italy (1964), Jamaica (1991), Japan (1964), Jordan (1964), Kenya (1965), Korea (DPR) (1964), Kuwait (1965), Laos (1965), Lebanon (1965), Liberia (1964), Libya (1968), Luxembourg (1965), Madagascar (1965), Malawi (1964), Malaysia (1964), Mali, Malta (1964), Mauritania (1964), Mauritius (1969), Mexico (1963), Mongolia (1963), Morocco (1966), Nepal (1964), Netherlands (1964), New Zealand (1963), Nicaragua (1965), Niger (1964), Nigeria (1967), Norway (1963), Pakistan (1988), Panama (1966), Papau New Guinea (1981), Paraguay, Peru (1964), Philippines (1965), Poland (1963), Portugal, Romania (1963), Russian Federation (1963), Rwanda (1963), San Marino (1964), Senegal (1964), Seychelles (1985), Sierra Leone (1964), Singapore (1968), Slovak Republic (1963), Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa (1963), Spain (1964), Sri Lanka (1964), Sudan (1966), Swaziland (1969), Sweden (1963), Switzerland (1964), Syria (1964), Taiwan, Thailand (1963), Togo (1964), Tonga (1971), Trinidad and Tobago (1964), Tunisia (1965), Turkey (1965), Uganda (1964), Ukraine (1963), United Kingdom (1963), United Republic of Tanzania (1964), United States (1963), Uruguay (1963), Venezuela (1965), Western Samoa (1965), Yemen (PDR: 1979, AR: 1963), Yugoslavia (1964), Zaire (1963), Zambia (1965)