�� On March 13, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Moscow with Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (#CTBTO PrepCom) Robert Floyd.

The Sides discussed issues related to cooperation with the CTBTO PrepCom.

Russia reaffirmed its commitment to the entry into force of the Treaty, as well as to observing the voluntarily declared moratorium on nuclear testing.

Both Parties emphasized their shared intention to steadily advance cooperation.

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�� Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during his talks with Robert Floyd:

It has been 30 years since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was signed, yet it has still not entered into force. Much remains to be done to achieve this goal.

We note your personal contribution to creating the conditions necessary for attaining the result that we would all like to see.

In the current international environment, tensions may escalate at any moment – and, in fact, they already are – including on matters related to nuclear testing.

Information circulating in the media is unsettling many countries and creating the impression that the nuclear non-proliferation regime is not merely facing risks but may be approaching the brink of collapse. In this situation, we highly appreciate your commitment to preserving the depoliticized nature of the work of the Provisional Technical Secretariat under your leadership.

Other international executive bodies dealing with issues of non-proliferation of WMDs sometimes succumb to the temptation to play politics and to accommodate those who seek to fuel tensions on the international stage over matters for which these very institutions were originally established.

☝️ I would like to emphasize once again that the Commission you lead has not yielded to such temptations. We see this as your merit and stand ready to work with you towards achieving the objectives set before the CTBTO Preparatory Commission.

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