Since its adoption by the General Assembly and opening for signature in September 1996, the Treaty has achieved a near universal adherence, of 185 signatories and 170 ratifying States. Izumi Nakamitsu, the Head of the of Disarmament Affairs, said we are rightly celebrating the anniversary of a hard-won victory, but, she added, this should also be a time to rethink what we can do to overcome the challenges that still lie ahead. This morning, the Security Council held an open debate to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-ban Treaty (CTBT). They will brief you on the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Investment Fair, which is scheduled to take place on 28 and 29 September. In a short while, I will be joined in-person by the sitting President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Collen Kelapile of Botswana, and we will be joined virtually by Citi’s Vice Chairman for Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, Jay Collins. The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
