Date : 07/03/2012
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
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