On 27 September 2018, H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, took part in the 9^th Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT, under the theme of “Continued Importance and Relevance of the CTBT for Achieving a World Free of Nuclear Weapons.” The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Senator the Honorable Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. H.E. Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) also participated in the event.

                      At the meeting, representatives from various countries, as well as the European Union, shared statements on the importance of the CTBTO verification regime and its potential role in the DPRK’s denuclearization, the universalization and entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the role of youth and civil society in raising public awareness of the CTBT. They also congratulated Thailand and Tuvalu for ratifying and signing the Treaty, respectively.

                   Thailand also gave a statement reaffirming its commitment to the CTBT and its readiness to work with the CTBTO and the international community toward its early entry into force in light of Thailand’s recent ratification of the CTBT, as well as in its capacity as CTBTO External Auditor for the term 2018 - 2019.