Nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East – First Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

Fifty-fifth General Assembly

Plenary

52nd Meeting (AM)

TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS, HYDROELECTRIC POWER FACILITIES

NOT SUSTAINABLE, AGENCY HEAD TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

IAEA Director-General Advocates Expansion of Peaceful

Nuclear Energy, Subject to Safety, Cost, Environmental Factors

A total reliance on fossil fuels and large hydroelectric facilities was not sustainable, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammed Elbaradei, told the General Assembly this morning, as it took up consideration of the Agency's report.

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He said he had continued his consultations with the States of the Middle East region regarding the application of full scope safeguards to all nuclear activities in the Middle East, and the development of model agreements that would contribute to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region.  Little progress had been achieved so far.  The representative of the United States praised the dedication of the men and women in the IAEA Secretariat to getting the job done, whether in nuclear cooperation, nuclear safety or verification, to getting the job done was clear.  That commitment meant that nuclear cooperation helped to support the health and nutrition of people throughout the world, that that cooperation could proceed under strict and effective safety measures, and that the risk of illicit use of nuclear material was effectively constrained.

India's representative, emphasized that the main objective of the IAEA was accelerating and enlarging the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world.  Safeguards measures to prevent the use of Agency assistance for military purposes and establish safety standards for protection of health must not overshadow IAEA's activities regarding the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

In introducing an amendment to the draft resolution introduced by Nigeria's representative, the representative of Egypt said his country had initiated the promotion of a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.  That would require that Israel also adopt the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).  His call was not an attack on, Israel, he said; it was a call for a durable and comprehensive peace based on international will.  The safeguards system was the main international mechanism for verification and detecting nuclear activities that had not been declared.  His amendment would stress the integrated role played by the Agency in comprehensive safeguarding.

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Action on Credentials Committee Report

The first report of the Credentials Committee was approved by the Assembly without a vote.

Speaking in explanation of position, the representative of Iran, said his country had reservations on the report with regard to Israel, and his delegation wished to dissociate itself with the parts of the report referring to the approval of the credentials of Israel.

Statements on IAEA Report

MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that while the future of nuclear power remained uncertain, it was clear that certain factors would be crucial to the future:  the safety of facility operation; the demonstrated feasibility of safe and environmentally sound radioactive waste disposal; the ability to make nuclear power economically competitive; the growing need for environmentally clean sources of energy; and public acceptance.

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… In keeping with the General Conference mandate, he had continued his consultations with the States of the Middle East region regarding the application of full scope safeguards to all nuclear activities in the Middle East, and the development of model agreements that would contribute to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region.  Little progress had been achieved so far.  He would continue to use all available means to move that mandate forward.

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AHMED ABOULGHIET (Egypt), in introducing the amendment to the draft resolution, said there were a number of topics, both regional and international, to which Egypt attached particular importance.  An important aspect of the Agency’s work was the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons;  that was particularly needed in the Middle East where Egypt had, for a long time, attempted to establish a nuclear–weapon-free region.

President Mubarak had, in 1990, initiated the promotion of a region free of from all weapons of mass destruction, as an extension and natural development of a nuclear-free zone.  Egypt had repeated this call one year after another.  That was not an Arab or an Egyptian demand, but an international endeavour.  However, this would require that Israel also adopted the provisions of the non-proliferation treaty, since Israel was the only country in the region that had not done so.

He said his call was not an attack on, or criticism against, Israel.  It was, rather, a call for a durable and comprehensive peace based on international will.  Israel was urged to join the treaty and subject its national nuclear facilities to the Agency’s comprehensive safeguard monitoring.  The safeguards system was, in fact, the main international mechanism for verification and detecting nuclear activities that had not been declared.  He said Egypt had proposed an amendment to operative paragraph 5 of draft resolution L.26 in order to stress the integrated role played by the Agency in comprehensive safeguarding.

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