VIENNA, March 7 (KUNA) -- The Arab Group at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voiced Wednesday deep concerns about Israeli nuclear capabilities that violates Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In his speech before the IAEA Board of Governors meeting here, Arab Group chief and Iraq's Ambassador to the agency Surood Najib said that while all the Arab States have acceded to the NPT and shown their continuing readiness to take practical steps towards the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, Israel continues to defy the international community by its refusal to become a party to the Treaty or to place its installations under the Agency's comprehensive safeguards system, thus exposing the region to nuclear risks and threatening peace.
The Arab group also reminded the IAEA about its previous resolutions about Israeli nuke capabilities and demands to Israel to sign the NPT.
The IAEA adopted a resolution including the two demands in its general conference held in September 2009, Ambassador Najib said.
He added the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that was held in May 2010 had adopted the work plan for creating a nuclear-free Middle East.
Najib said the Arab nations welcome the organization of an international conference next November to achieve this goal.
He warned that Israeli nuclear capabilities are imposing a threat to security and peace in the Middle East and the world.
He expressed regret that some major IAEA member states, which have been constantly defending the universality of the NPT, are turning a blind eye to this principle when it comes to Israel's nuclear capabilities.
The Arab representative said Israeli nuke weapons and hostile policies against its neighboring are undermining peace in the region.
Najib concluded that all IAEA member states are invited to cooperate in order to remedy this situation resulting from the fact that Israel alone possesses nuclear capabilities, which are undeclared and not subject to international control thus constituting a permanent threat to peace and security in the region. (end) amg.ibi KUNA 072146 Mar 12NNNN