CTBT Secretariat in crisis: Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty -- Inside Report: The Nuclear Test-Ban Commission Is on the Verge of Collapse

Rachel Neuwirth

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is on the verge of collapse, according to confidential sources, who reveal a history of internal mismanagement and inaction attributable to the leadership of the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) Executive Secretary Dr.Wolfgang Hoffman, and obstructionism by the Bush Administration.

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBTO PrepCom) - the Vienna, Austria-based United Nations organization set up to implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) - has been in crisis since January 2002 due to the shutting off of a monitoring station by the Islamic Republic of Iran and a damning report on the human resources problems within its PTS. More than two years later, these matters have not been resolved. Instead, the PTS has been beset by a series of internal and external crises.

To date the CTBT has been signed by 172 states and ratified by 115. Executive secretary Hoffmann has so far failed to increase the number of signatures and ratifications, especially of the nuclear-capable 44 states listed in Annex 2 of the CTBT. India, Pakistan and North Korea (DPRK) are part of this group of 44 that have not yet signed the Treaty, and they are unlikely to do so in the near future. China, Colombia, DRC (Zaire), Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, USA and Viet Nam have yet to ratify it. The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejected the CTBT in October 1999.

The CTBT was opened for signature on 24 September 1996 and was to have entered into force three years later. The International Monitoring System (IMS) consisting of 321 stations and 16 radionuclide labs were to be ready in 1999; however, this system may not be ready till 2007. The United States, United Kingdom and other states are getting frustrated with Dr. Hoffmann's foot-dragging in this area.

In 2001 the Bush Administration cut funding ($800,000) to the On Site Inspections (OSI) Division of the CTBT, saying that this could only be used after Entry Into Force of the CTBT. This was an indication that the Administration did not want to seek the ratification of the CTBT and thereby bring its Entry Into Force closer. The Bush Administration did not attend the Entry Into Force Conference held at the UN in New York in November 2001 and did not attend the one in September 2003 in Vienna. Also, the U.S reduced its contribution to the overall budget from 25 to 22 percent. This has sent a negative message to other states. If the U.S stops funding in 2006, other states are unlikely to pick up the tab.

About 80 states never pay their dues at all. Of the major states, Italy is a persistent defaulter. Colombia has not yet even paid a cent in dues to the Preparatory Commission.

Due to a long-running dispute, the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) regional Group of the CTBT has been in a mess since its start. The Islamic/Arab states will not allow for the election of a Vice-Chair from this Group, as this would acknowledge that they have accepted Israel as part of this Group, as stated in the CTBT. Since the problem within the MESA group has not been resolved, it has been unable to elect a Chair of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, as it is required by the Treaty. The Chair rotates annually according to the regional groups. The international community tried to put Israel in its correct geographical region for the first time with the CTBT, but without success.

Unfair employment practices have undercut the effectiveness of the Nuclear Test-Ban Preparatory Commission. A damaging Cedar Human Resources report in January 2002 found, among other things, a climate of "fear and mistrust" in the commission's secretariat. Dr. Hoffman responded to the report by firing the chief of the Personnel Section, whose only offense had been to faithfully carry out Hoffman's orders. The commission has lost two cases brought against it before the International Labor Organization's administrative tribunal by disgruntled former employees. In one of these cases, the administrative tribunal awarded substantial compensation, back wages and perks to a former employee of the commission's Personnel Section. This money could have been used to build the IMS, but was wasted due to Dr. Hoffmann's dictatorial management style.

Iran has taken advantage of the turmoil within the CTBTO Preparatory Commission situation to shut off its monitoring station. This is a violation of the CTBT. Iran may withdraw from the NPT and the CTBT in the future as well. North Korea may conduct a nuclear test in the future.

Because of the failure of the CTBTO regime, Israel may be forced to bomb Iran's nuclear plants before they come online in 2005 (shades of Osirak, Iraq in June 1981). For the same reason, the next U.S president will have to give serious consideration to the resumption of nuclear testing, in order to modernize its aging stockpile and deal with the dangers posed by rogue states and non-state suicide actors. The Bush Administration would like to resume nuclear testing in 2007, and has already taken several steps in this direction, including preparing the Nevada test site and the research on mini nukes.

Dr. Hoffmann has successfully portrayed himself to the world as the courageous captain of a ship on an uncertain course. The truth is rather different. Dr. Hoffmann, who is a career diplomat and the former German Ambassador to the Conference for Disarmament in Geneva where the CTBT was negotiated, is 68 years old, and suffers from high blood pressure and heart problems. He should have left on 16 March 2004 when he completed his seven-year tenure; however, he has obtained an extension till July 2005. He has successfully abused his position by offering the maximum number of posts in the Secretariat to German nationals and nationals of the 25 European Union states. In fact, the Organization is international only in name, but essentially a smaller version of the European Union. The PTS has a staff of 310 from 69 member states. More than 60 percent of the staff members are of European origin. If Dr. Hoffmann had his way he would employ all the 4.5 million unemployed persons of his native Germany.

The On-Site Inspection (OSI) Division is still in operation although it does nothing useful except for providing employment and other benefits to a group of aging bureaucrats who spend most of their office time smoking and drinking coffee on the 4th and 7th floor bars of the C Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Most of the chiefs of sections of the Nuclear Test-Ban Commission's secretariat, as well as one senior officer from the office of the Executive Secretary, can be seen spending his working day at the VIC coffee bars chatting up pretty secretaries. Since there is no time registering system for professional staff they are free even not to come to office. In fact most senior Professional staff come to office only to check email and surf the Internet.

Most senior employees earn in excess of US $100,000 annually, and this income is tax-free. Multimillionaire Dr. Hoffmann earns over US$140,000 yearly. If fact most of the senior management comprises dollar millionaires, thanks to the American taxpayer. In addition, professional staff receive a rental subsidy and several other perks.

This is how the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty abuses the money of U.S taxpayers. Do you want to be a millionaire? Then join the Nuclear Test Ban Commission's secretariat at a senior level.

The authors work inside the CTBTO organization and are accredited diplomats to it. They aspire to see the CTBTO "fulfill its mandate under a new and effective leadership." They have requested anonymity.

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Rachel Neuwirth, an internationally recognized, political commentator and analyst. She specializes in Middle Eastern Affairs with particular emphasis on Militant Islam and Israeli foreign policy. She has been published in prominent news papers of Europe, Asia and the US. She is frequently quoted by reputable Media. Conversant in Arabic and French.

rachterry@sbcglobal.net