EcoMole: A List of Questions for the CTBTO PrepCom Leaders
These questions were submitted to the Public Information Section, however, it never answered them. Instead it provided evasive explanations
July 18, 2004

This map shows the International Monitoring System that listens for signs of illicit nuclear testing. It's clear that the CTBTO has its ear to the ground but some insiders accuse the organization's leadership of having its head in the sand. CREDIT: CTBTO

  1. According to your press release dated 19 November 2003, the budget of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission for 2004 is $94.5 million. Please provide a Divisional breakdown for ADMIN, LEGREL, IDC, IMS, OSI and OES. This information used to be contained in your press releases of previous years. Why this lack of transparency and accountability by an organization run on taxpayer monies from 172 member states?

  2. At the end of 2003, what percentage of the Global Verification Regime is in operation? When will the system be fully operational, given the political and financial uncertainty in the coming years? The system was to be ready by Entry into Force in September 1999.

  3. The Executive Secretary of the PTS, Dr. Wolfgang Hoffman (68) of Germany, will be leaving in July 2005. Why is he not leaving on 16 March 2004 when he completed his seven-year tenure? Is there no consistency in the application of staff rules and regulations? Why is he not considered a staff member?

  4. (b) Given Dr. Hoffmann's health problems (such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart obstructions), is he fit to head a young outfit like the PTS especially since he is well-over the United Nations retirement age of 60? How can a man who spends most of his time eating pork and drinking beer run an international secretariat?

  5. Is the extension of the employment contract of Dr. Hoffmann a reward for his failure to get even a commitment from India and the rest of the Annex 2 states to sign or ratify the CTBT? Is this how the United Nations system works where one is punished for success and rewarded for failure?

  6. Why has the Executive Secretary made no attempt since he took office on March 17 1997 to visit India, Pakistan or DPRK? The so-called quite diplomacy with their Permanent Missions in Vienna has not been fruitful. Why does he not even publish and Op-ed in an Indian, Pakistani or international newspaper?

  7. Over 170 states have signed the CTBT, however, you only employ only nationals from 69 member-states and most of them are of European origin including those from South Africa. The PTS looks like the European Union. What steps are being taken to rectify this matter? The PTS can employ one staff member from each member state. How many Nobel Prize-nominated scientists does it employ?

  8. What steps are being taken to increase the percentage of women in the Professional and higher grades -- especially from the developing member-states? A golden opportunity was lost when it was decided not to appoint women as the next directors of the IDC or OSI Divisions.

  9. Several staff members are challenging the legality of the seven-year employment rule at the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labor Organization. The first judgment was given in February. What steps will the PTS take to rectify this situation -- especially since it has lost two cases bought by ex staff members at the Tribunal?

  10. How can the staff members affected by seven-year rule concentrate on their work when they are uncertain about their careers at the PTS? To what level has the morale and productivity of the PTS employees suffered?

  11. In this context, what steps have been taken to implement the 77 recommendations contained in the Human Resources by Cedar GMBH of January 2002? What steps have been taken to implement their follow-up recommendations?

  12. Also in this context, why did the current president of the Staff Council not make a statement of the final session of the Preparatory Commission in 2003? Is this tradition also being discarded?

  13. The Republican-controlled US Senate defeated the ratification of the CTBT in October 1999 and the US also cut funding for the On-Site Inspection (OSI) by $800,000 in 2001. It has recently revoked the ban on the development of mini-nukes. The US is likely to resume nuclear testing in 2007. In this regard, what is the future of the Preparatory Commission? Will it become the next League of Nations?

  14. Recently, a middle-ranking official from the US State Department informed the Executive Secretary that the US would not pay its $21 million contribution to the Preparatory Commission in 2005. Did this force Dr. Hoffmann to leave his post in July 2005?

  15. What is the status of the Iran non-supply of technical data issue?

  16. What is the status of the non-payment of dues by Colombia? How long will these two issues continue, as they are unfair to other member states?

  17. When will the problems within the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) Region be resolved and when will it elect a Chairperson of the Preparatory Commission?

  18. The Director of the Administration Division is over 63 and will he be leaving soon as well. Who will replace him? He has been in his post for less than three years.

  19. Who is likely replace the Executive Secretary, Dr. Hoffmann? Is it the Director of the IMS Division? Are you a likely candidate as well?


Background Articles and Documentation

China, Iran Balking at Test-ban-pact Cooperation
Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent / Reuters USA: March 8, 2002 www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm../newsid/14938/story.html

China and Iran Threaten Test Ban Treaty
Julian Borger in Washington and John Gittings Shanghai: March 26, 2002 The Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,674099,00.html

CTBT: US Seeks to Replace Head of Test Ban Treaty Organization
David Ruppe / Global Security Newswire February 21, 2003 issue www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2003/2/21/7s.html


CTBT: Vienna Treaty Staff Dispute Mandatory Retirement Rules
David Ruppe / Global Security Newswire January 10, 2003 issue www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2003/1/10/5s.html

CTBT I: Anti-Nuclear Test Organization Seeks Better Funding
David Ruppe / Global Security Newswire September 18, 2002 www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2002/9/18/6s.html

CTBT: Progress Mixed on Organization’s Five-Year Anniversary
David Ruppe / Global Security Newswire March 19, 2002 www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2002/3/19/7s.html

Letter to Secretary Colin Powell from Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC)
www.clw.org/pub/clw/coalition/helms031201.htm

Why the Senate Rejected the CTBT and the Implications of Its Demise. Remarks by Sen. Jon Kyl / Carnegie Endowment for International Peace June 5, 2000 http://kyl.senate.gov/s060500.htm

Cases Won by Ex-staff Members against the CTBTO PrepCom
ILO Administrative Tribunal Judgment Judgment No. 2315 www.ilo.org/public/english/tribunal/fulltext/2315.htm

Judgment No. 2259
www.ilo.org/public/english/tribunal/fulltext/2259.htm

Judgment No. 2121
www.ilo.org/public/english/tribunal/fulltext/2121.htm

Judgment No. 2031
www.ilo.org/public/english/tribunal/fulltext/2121.htm

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