Friday, September 23 2005 14:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Citing heightened global anxiety over nuclear weapons, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today urged 11 countries, including India, Pakistan and the United States to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Expressing alarm that countries whose ratification is essential for the treaty to enter into force had still not acted, Annan said the longer the pact is delayed, the greater the risk that someone, somewhere, will test nuclear weapons.

"The treaty was opened for signature nine years ago," he told the fourth conference on facilitating its entry into force.

"But after nine years, the treaty is still not in force. We should all be gravely concerned about that."

It would be a major setback back to the cause of non-proliferation and disarmament if someone tests nuclear weapons, he said, noting that although the vast majority of the States 176 in all have signed it and 125 have ratified it, 11 of the 44 who must ratify the treaty for it to enter into force still had not done so.

States who have not done so are India, China, Colombia, North Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, United States and Vietnam.