Head of CTBTO visits Monterey, Engages Students and Experts

William Potter and Jeffrey Lewis
September 22, 2014

 

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), visited the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) on September 18-19, 2014. During his visit to campus, he gave the opening speech to the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference—a semester long simulation course conducted by Dr. William Potter. He also gave a CNS seminar about the activities of the CTBTO, participated in an informal lunch with MIIS faculty and CNS experts, and also met separately with CNS Visiting Fellows. Mr. Jean duPreez, Chief of External Relations at the CTBTO and formerly head of the International Organizations and Nonproliferation Program at CNS accompanied Dr. Zerbo.

The CTBTO is the international organization tasked with maintaining the International Monitoring System for the CTBT.  Verification of a global nuclear test ban is a critical component in bringing the Treaty into force.  The United States is one of a handful of countries that has not yet ratified the agreement.

As part of his visit to the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Dr. Lassina Zerbo, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), sat down with Dr. Jeffrey Lewis to discuss the future of the treaty banning nuclear explosions.  Dr. Zerbo describes advances in the CTBTO’s International Monitoring System, explains how being from Burkina Faso helps makes the case that nonproliferation is in everyone’s interest, and talks about what the international community needs to do to bring the CTBT into force.

Listen to the Arms Control Wonk podcast:

An Interview with Dr. Lassina Zerbo

You can subscribe to the Arms Control Wonk podcast on iTunes.

 

Dr. William Potter and Dr. Lassina Zerbo

Dr. William Potter and Dr. Lassina Zerbo

Dr. Lassina Zerbo and audience

Dr. Lassina Zerbo and audience

Jean duPreez, Chief of External Relations at the CTBTO and formerly head of the International Organizations and Nonproliferation Program at CNS

Jean duPreez, Chief of External Relations at the CTBTO and formerly head of the International Organizations and Nonproliferation Program at CNS

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Dr. William Potter, Jean duPreez, and Visiting Fellows

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Dr. William Potter, Jean duPreez, and Visiting Fellows

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