05 January 2001 Albright: Eventual CTBT Ratification Will Guard Against Nuclear Dangers Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urged the incoming Bush administration and the new Congress January 5 to examine the latest assessment of the merits of the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and "decide what the right course is for America." Albright's brief statement was prompted by a new report on the CTBT presented to the secretary and President Clinton by former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman John Shalikashvili. Shalikashvili, the special advisor to the President and Secretary of State for the CTBT, made a series of recommendations in his January 5 report, including appointing a new deputy national security advisor for non-proliferation. An outline of his recommendations is available at http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/ctbtpage/ctbt_fact.html Albright said she believes that the eventual ratification of the CTBT should be a part of an overall U.S. non-proliferation strategy that "will help guard America against nuclear dangers." Following is the text of Albright's statement: U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman January 5, 2001 Statement by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright Report on Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty General Shalikashvili has performed another great service for the nation. Yesterday, he presented to me his report on his consultations with the Senate and independent experts on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. I appreciate the excellent and comprehensive work he has done. I believe the General's thorough assessment will provide the basis for thoughtful consideration of these issues by the new administration and the new Congress. I urge them to look at these questions on their merits. They will have to decide what the right course is for America, but my view remains that eventual ratification of this Treaty, as one part of an overall non-proliferation strategy, will help guard America against nuclear dangers and make all Americans safer. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File