Philippines Leads Budgetary Discussions of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas, together with Executive Secretary Dr. Robert Floyd, opened the 66th Session of the Working Group A of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization on 16 October 2024 at the Vienna International Center. (Photo courtesy of CTBTO)

VIENNA 21 October 2024 – The Philippine Permanent Mission in Vienna effectively steered the discussions of the Working Group A (WGA) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission during its 66th Session from 16-17 October 2024 at the Vienna International Center.

Presiding as WGA Chairperson, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas found consensus during the deliberations of important issues of the Group, including those on financial and budgetary decisions, the indicative program for 2025, and the long-term sustainment of the International Monitoring System (IMS) network. The Working Group also agreed on three recommendations to the CTBT Preparatory Commission on next year’s budget and programs.

Delegations broke into spontaneous applause and expressed their gratitude to the Philippines for the effective and efficient conduct of the session which concluded a day ahead of schedule—a record for the WGA in recent years. The WGA adopted a report by consensus which will be submitted to the 63rd Session of the CTBT Preparatory Commission in November 2024.

The CTBTO is committed to establishing a world free of nuclear testing. The WGA, a subsidiary group within the CTBTO, deals with the organization's budgetary and administrative matters, such as the annual budget, financial and staff regulations and rules and legal issues. END

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas chaired the 66th Session of the Working Group A of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization. The Philippines was praised for its handling of the Session that led to an agreement by consensus on recommendations on the budget and a report to the CTBT’s Preparatory Commission.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Evangelina A. Bernas chaired the 66th Session of the Working Group A of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization on 16-17 October 2024 at the Vienna International Center. (Photo Courtesy of CTBTO)

States Signatories attended the 66th Session of the Working Group A of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization on 16-17 October 2024 at the Vienna International Center. (Photo Courtesy of CTBTO)

For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustria, or https://www.instagram.com/phinaustria/.