Russia to be able verify compliance with CTBT in 2014

Russia will finish the creation of a network of the International Monitoring System in 2014 to help verify the compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), said Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. “The Russian foreign and defence ministers assured me,” Zerbo said. At least 25 networks operate in Russia, which ranks second in the world after the United States, he said. The International Monitoring System should comprise of 337 networks. A total of 200 networks are effective now, Zerbo said. The networks transmit information to the CTBTO headquarters in Vienna. Russia uses the technology of seismic, infra-sound and radionuclide monitoring because sonar systems are being established in international waters. The IMS networks are also used to warn about tsunamis and earthquakes. A total of 183 countries signed the CTBT while 161 states ratified it. Among them are Russia, France and Britain. China and the U.S. signed the document, but they did not ratify it. Previosly  Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty should into effect as soon as possible.