For information only - not an official document
UNIS/MA/82
24 October 2014
VIENNA, 24 October (Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-ban-Treaty Organization) - Media are cordially invited to a pre-launch briefing on the Integrated Field Exercise 2014 (IFE14) on 29 October 2014 from 14.00 at the Vienna International Centre in conference room C5 (C-building, 7th floor).
The exercise will take place from 3 November to 9 December 2014, mainly in Jordan's Dead Sea area. IFE14 will be the CTBTO's second full-scale simulation of an on-site inspection after IFE08 in Kazakhstan and the most ambitious, realistic and challenging inspection simulation to date.
IFE14 involves some four years of preparation and over 200 exercise participants and observers. Around 150 tonnes of equipment will be in use, including state-of-the-art technologies deployed for the first time in an on-site inspection context.
Media opportunities:
Informal briefing, Wednesday 29 October from 14.00 to 15.00, Vienna International Centre, conference room C5 (C-building, 7th floor) with Exercise Director Oleg Rozhkov and Exercise Manager Gordon MacLeod.
VIP day, Saturday 15 November from 09.00, Dead Sea area, Jordan. Limited places, to be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Contact: Pablo Mehlhorn, Tel. +43 1 26030 6451, Email: press@ctbto.org
Media day, Sunday 16 November: Opportunity to film field teams and the base of operation and interview exercise participants, Dead Sea area, Jordan. Limited places, to be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Contact: Pablo Mehlhorn, Tel. +43 1 26030 6451, Email: press@ctbto.org
Regular video and image packages during the exercise - contact: Kirstie Gregorich Hansen, Tel. +43 1 26030 6540, Email: Kirsten.Gregorich.Hansen@ctbto.org
Background
The 1996 CTBT bans all nuclear explosions including underground. To date, 183 countries have signed the CTBT, of which 163 have ratified. However, eight States have yet to ratify for entry into force: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States.
The CTBTO has established a verification regime capable of detecting nuclear explosions anywhere on the planet. It features a network of over 337 monitoring facilities which detected all three North Korean nuclear tests. Once the Treaty enters into force, on-site inspections will further reinforce the CTBT's verification regime.
For further information, please see www.ctbto.org your resource on ending nuclear testing.
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For further information please contact:
Elisabeth
Wächter,
Chief of Public Information
Telephone: +43 1 26030 6375
Mobile: +43 699 1459 6375
Email: Elisabeth.WAECHTER@CTBTO.ORG
