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Nuclear test ban chief: Prize strengthens Obama on disarmament

Oct 9, 2009, 11:32 GMT

Vienna - The head of the international nuclear test ban organization, Tibor Toth, on Friday said the Nobel Prize for Peace awarded to Barack Obama would strengthen the US president on his 'arduous path' towards nuclear disarmament.

Toth, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) noted that Obama has declared his commitment to ratify the treaty.

So far, the pact has not come into force because key countries including the United States, Israel, North Korea, India and Pakistan have not ratified it.

'The road towards achieving nuclear disarmament that President Barack Obama has chosen to travel can be an arduous path,' Toth said. 'This recognition by the Nobel Committee of the President's efforts can only strengthen his resolve.'

In supporting the treaty, Obama has reverted the policy of the preceding administration.