Nuclear test ban treaty the focus of Ban’s visit to Austrian capital

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Austria next week for a three-day official visit focused on efforts to tackle the illegal drug trade in Afghanistan and the push for a global treaty banning nuclear tests.

Mr. Ban is scheduled to arrive in Vienna on 15 February to address the opening session of the third ministerial conference of the Paris Pact Partners on Combating the Afghan Illicit Opiate Trade, his spokesperson announced today.

The UN chief will also attend a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBTO), which Indonesia recently agreed to ratify.

Earlier this week Mr. Ban urged the remaining eight so-called Annex 2 countries to ratify the treaty – a necessary step before the convention can enter into force.

While in Vienna, Mr. Ban will give an address at Hofburg Palace on the theme of “empowering people in a changing world,” and is also slated to meet President Heinz Fischer and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger.