Arab countries call Israel to join NPT

VIENNA, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- The Arab Group in Vienna called on Israel Friday to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and place all its nuclear facilities under supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog, voicing concern over Israel's growing nuclear capabilities.
Israel's "negative practices" in the nuclear field have caused concern among countries around the world, said Ambassador Kozhaya Khouri, Lebanese permanent representative to the international organizations and acting chairman of the Arab Group.
Addressing the council of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Khouri said international efforts' failure to implement UN resolution 1995, which extended NPT indefinitely, would undermine NPT's credibility and would have negative consequences on its review and implementation.
Israel, he said, has been stalling in the disclosure of its nuclear program and refusing to join NPT despite Israeli officials' assurances coupled with documents of the US national archives that the country has a nuclear program.
Khouri said all initiatives to clear the Middle East of nuclear weapons would be in the interest of peace.
He voiced regret because some countries, which he did not name, acted in double standards when discussing the Israeli nuclear capabilities. (end) amg.bs