Kuwait reiterates need to clear Mideast from nuclear arms, WMD

VIENNA, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Wednesday reiterated commitment to clearing the Middle East from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMD), with ultimate objective of achieving security and stability of the region.
Israel should join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) because it is the region's only non-member country, Sadeq Mafari, Kuwait Ambassador to Austria and its representative to international organizations, said.
Marafi, addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency's conference, called for placing Israel's facilities under IAEA's safeguard measures.
Israel, he said, still rejecting any initiative that would enable IAEA to implement its safeguard measures in the Middle East thus fuel tension, he said.
On Iran, Marafi said Kuwait welcomed the 2015 nuclear agreement that was endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 2231, but also called on Tehran to fully comply with NPT and safeguard measures.
Kuwait supports right of all countries to produce and develop peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said, but also called on Iran to cooperate fully with IAEA.
Kuwait looks forward to Iran's ratification of IAEA's additional protocol in order to allow the UN agency provide credible reports that there were no clandestine radioactive materials or nuclear acvities in Iran.
Marafi welcomed outcome of a summit between US and Korean leaders, and hoped it would contribute to stability in the Korean peninsula.
He meanwhile said Kuwait was cooperating with IAEA regarding the use of nuclear energy towards building social and economic development projects.
Kuwait, said Marafi, contributed to IAEA's projects which, for example, resulted in the inauguration of the low-enriched uranium bank.
Kuwait and IAEA have been collaborating to implement peaceful nuclear application projects in 2017-18, he said, while there were other vetures dealing with health, agriculture and water would be implemented in 2018-19. (end) mah.bs