Indonesia’s ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is significant for this rapidly changing archipelago and world’s largest Muslim majority country, and it is hoped that it would encourage the other holdouts. Read Recent Article: -“Which Countries Blocking Nuclear Test Ban Treaty” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/which-countries-blocking-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-by-ambassador-mo/42302. Indonesia is one of the Annex 2 States, whose ratification is required for the treaty to enter into force. The States in that group that have not yet to ratified are China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and the United States. UNSG Ban Ki-moon heralded Indonesia’s ratification (Top Photo Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natelawaga and one time colleague at United Nations as then young Indonesian diplomat), and used it as opportunity to encourage others through his spokesperson: “The Secretary-General encourages all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the treaty and is counting upon the engaged leadership of the remaining eight States whose ratification is required for the treaty’s entry into force.” UNSG Ban is the depositary of the treaty, which bans all nuclear explosions. As of today, 182 States have signed the CTBT. Once Indonesia deposits its instrument of ratification, the total number of ratifying States will stand at 156, including 36 Annex 2 States. Tibor Tóth, head of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), joined UNSG Ban. “By this historic decision, the gap keeping the treaty from entering into force has been narrowed down to eight countries.” He congratulated Indonesia’s Parliament on the ratification. (Link to CTBTO Statement - www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2011/unisous120.html). By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX War Crimes Justice” Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice