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17:28 GMT
VIENNA, May 2 (KUNA) -- The Arab countries on Wednesday renewed the call
for subjecting all nuclear facilities in the Middle East, notably the Israeli
ones, to safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The call came in an address by chairman of the council of Arab ambassadors
in Vienna Makram Al-Qaisi to the first session of the Preparatory Committee
(PrepCom) for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review
Conference.
Israel joining the NPT is the key to the success of the IAEA efforts to rid
the Middle East off all weapons of mass destruction and declare the region
nuclear weapon-free zone, Ambassador Al-Qaisi stressed on behalf of the Arab
state parties to the treaty.
This move is crucial to peace and security as it could help avert an arms
race in the region, thus enhancing mutual confidence and catalyzing economic
development, he argued.
The Arab countries pin high hopes on the PrepCom sessions for preparing the
ground for the success of the 2015 NPT Review Conference and cementing the
credibility of the treaty as an international legal instrument, Al-Qaisi added.
The ongoing PrepCom session started at the Vienna International Centre on
April 30 and will last until May 11. This meeting is the first of three
sessions that will be held prior to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. (end)
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