On the issues of a nuclear test-ban treaty, the ministers' language this year appeared to be a compromise.

The most important, he said, would be its readiness to sign the test-ban treaty once Indian negotiators had determined "what we can get."

Even worse, India now suggests it may not sign the test-ban treaty, despite longstanding support for such an agreement.

The council contended in its report that such major improvements run counter to the goals of the test-ban treaty.

Apart from this he showed a strong initiative in pushing through the nuclear test-ban treaty of 1963, and a mixed record elsewhere.

Atmospheric testing has been banned since 1963 under the limited nuclear test-ban treaty.

Opposition to a test-ban treaty has been strong over the years in a number of major countries with nuclear programs.

Private disarmament groups are jubilant that a test-ban treaty is within reach.

France has said that it intends to sign a global comprehensive test-ban treaty next year.

And we did have a partial test-ban treaty in 1963.