Canada expresses regret over India's decision to block final agreement on the Comprehensive Test Ban (CTBT) negotiations recently [in August] which took place at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva.

"We are deeply disappointed that India has decided to block the treaty in the CD. Although Canada wanted more reference to disarmament and a treaty that would enter into force quickly, we believe it is the best compromise that could be achieved. This treaty will bring the permanent end to nuclear testing that the world has been seeking for 40 years," said Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on August 15th, 1996 (India's independence day).

India objects to the current text and has insisted that it will not sign the treaty as it currently stands. Recently, however, India has taken the additional step of blocking consensus in the CD, and in doing so has prevented the treaty from being forwarded to the United Nations General Assembly for formal approval.

"Canada has a long­standing commitment to nuclear disarmament," said Mr. Axworthy. "Further progress on this issue starts with the CTBT, and we will continue to devote every effort to see it through to a successful conclusion."