IAEA stresses differences on nuclear-free Mideast

VIENNA, Aug 9 (KUNA) -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano acknowledged on Tuesday that there hasn't been so far an agreement amongst Middle East countries regarding establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons.
Amano stressed, in a report distributed to member states, his intention to continue consultations with the region's countries so as to find a common ground to prepare the ideal deals in this regard.
Amano also will continue his consultations with concerned parties on the early implementation of the IAEA's safeguards protocol on nuclear arms in the Middle East, the report, which will be discussed on September 19, said.
It recalled that all Middle East countries, except for Israel, are member states of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and they have vowed to accept the agency's guarantees.
The report noted that the IAEA 59th annual General Conference stressed the pressing need of an immediate approval of all Mideast countries of the agency's comprehensive safeguards regarding all nuclear activities, as a step towards building confidence amongst all region's countries.
The conference adopted resolutions, further strengthening the IAEA's work in the areas of nuclear science and technology, safety, security, safeguards and technical cooperation. All Arab countries joined the treaty, while Israel has been so far a non-member state, claiming that it has been in a state of war with Arabs and is waiting until making peace in the region. (end) amq.abk.hm