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

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-fifth session

First Committee

21st meeting

Monday, 23 October 2000, 10 a.m.

New York

President:  Mr. U Mya Than…………………….(Myanmar)

The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.

Agenda items 65 to 81 (continued)

Thematic discussion on item subjects; introduction and consideration of all draft resolutions submitted under all disarmament and international security items

The Chairman: Before calling upon the first speaker on my list I should like to inform the Committee that before this meeting closes I shall briefly explain to members of the Committee the rules of procedure to be followed during the voting that will start on Wednesday, 25 October 2000.

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Mr. Rybakov (Belarus) (spoke in Russian): The entry into force of the treaties on nuclear-weapon-free zones in Africa and Southeast Asia, the recognition of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Mongolia, the continued efforts of the States of the Middle East to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region, negotiations to establish  a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia and proposals to establish such zones in the southern Caucasus and Central and Eastern Europe are all natural movements towards the international community establishing a nuclear-free world. Certainly all these initiatives are at the various stages of implementation. Some regions, which are free of nuclear weapons, have withstood the test of time, others are at the stage of discussion, while some are simply at the stage of an idea being put forward. One thing is certain, the efforts of countries are directed towards establishing comprehensive, equitable security for all. In this connection, the international conference which Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed be held could find the means to remove the nuclear threat and establish a world free of nuclear weapons.

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Mr. Issa (Egypt): I have pleasure in presenting the draft resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”, document A/C.1/55/L.29. Since 1994 the General Assembly has adopted the resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”. This draft resolution, which is presented by Egypt and other sponsors, enjoys the overwhelming support of Members of the United Nations. It conveys the concern of the international community over the continued presence of unsafeguarded nuclear activities in the Middle East and the resulting risk of nuclear proliferation in the region.

This issue is of particular importance and priority today, since all countries in the Middle East except Israel have become parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and have accepted comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards on their nuclear activities. The draft resolution extends to Israel the invitation to join the 182 States that have renounced the nuclear-weapon option, an invitation whose acceptance has become an obligation that members of the international community are obligated to pursue if the NPT is to remain a credible instrument and continue to have non-proliferation value.

On 19 May 2000 the international community took a leading step in addressing this concern in the 2000 NPT Review Conference by distinctly recognizing the importance of achieving universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East and emphasizing in explicit and unequivocal terms the importance of Israel acceding to the NPT and placing all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. The consensus Final Document adopted by the Review Conference is a positive contribution to all non-proliferation endeavours in the Middle East. The draft resolution before the First Committee this year flows from this consensus. It faithfully reflects principles and language that were accepted and adopted by all NPT States parties in May 2000, just five months ago.

There are certain changes to the draft resolution which build entirely on the language contained in the consensus Final Document. They are a new sixth preambular paragraph that recognizes the commitment of the States parties to the NPT to achieve the universality of the Treaty, and a new eleventh preambular paragraph that stresses the need to advance towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and for all States in the region to place their nuclear facilities under IAEA full-scope safeguards. A new operative paragraph 1 reaffirms the importance of Israel’s accession to the NPT and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East. Operative paragraph 2 calls on Israel to accede to the NPT, thereby accepting the same obligations that have been entered into by all States of the region.

Draft resolution L.29 is not of a confrontational nature; rather it prompts Israel to accept the same legally binding non-proliferation commitments that have been accepted by all other States of the region, indeed by 182 States already, and to refrain from any action which could undermine regional and international peace and security. The universality of the NPT in the Middle East is the message of the draft resolution. It was deemed an urgent priority by the 1995 decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and was reaffirmed by the 2000 NPT Review Conference.

All States that are parties to the NPT and that participated in the 2000 Review Conference are urged to support this draft resolution. To do otherwise would be a mockery of the Final Document adopted by them in May 2000, and would give the message that selectivity should be the norm in arms control activities. We urge all Members of the United Nations as well as States parties to the NPT to transmit a clear and forceful message through the General Assembly affirming their commitment to the world of nuclear non-proliferation, a message that would also reflect that the consensus achieved only five months ago at the Review Conference is respected and that there will be no double standards when it comes to addressing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

We have witnessed over the past three weeks a deterioration in the political situation in the Middle East of terrifying proportions. Despite that, we continue, as we have always done, to approach the issue of non-proliferation in the Middle East as it relates to the security arrangements in the region, indeed as a prerequisite to any future regional security arrangement there. This approach is distinct from the political settlement of the Middle East conflict through what is known, perhaps euphemistically, as the peace process. We trust that the current situation in the Middle East will not tolerate any leniency or complacency on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation, or any other issue, for that matter. The call for prompt action from the General Assembly must be unequivocal and unwavering, because the question at hand is the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and the credibility of States that profess support for this regime.

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Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): The Arab Republic of Egypt has submitted a draft resolution entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East” on behalf of the members of the League of Arab States, including the Syrian Arab Republic. My delegation supports the draft resolution, convinced as it is that the situation of tension prevailing in the Middle East requires a greater effort on the part of the international community in order to oblige Israel to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

In this respect I wish to say once again that there is no reason to justify the fact that Israel insists on not acceding to the NPT, since today more than 182 countries are parties to it, including all the Arab States, without exception. The results of the Review Conference held recently at United Nations Headquarters in New York represent the international community’s recognition of the need to put an end to nuclear proliferation, which represents a considerable threat to international peace and security. The message sent out by the NPT Review Conference is extremely clear, and there is no need to interpret it in various ways. The only interpretation is the elimination of nuclear weapons. The Conference demonstrated the serious resolve of the international community to eliminate nuclear weapons and not to accept any justification for not acceding to this extremely important Treaty. Justifications presented by Israel, including its allegations regarding security for the population during the peace process, are unacceptable. The Arab populations are those most in need of security, especially since Israel possesses the most lethal and sophisticated conventional and chemical weapons in the world.

The Middle East region today is seeing the escalation of tension following the actions perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, Israeli threats against the Arab countries, and the obstacles placed by Israel on the path to peace. Thus we hope that the international community will strive to convince the only country in the Middle East still not a party to the NPT to adhere to that Treaty. The Arab summit which ended its work yesterday in Cairo appealed to the international community and asked Israel to adhere to the Treaty and to open its nuclear installations to International Atomic Energy Agency inspection.

The lax attitude of the international community vis-à-vis Israel is unacceptable because it represents a danger to the efforts of the international community in this area and could encourage other parties not to abide by the international will. That is why once again we call upon all States to support the draft resolution regarding the nuclear threat in the Middle East, because the draft explains the desire of the Arab States to ensure security in their region and throughout the world.

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Programme of work

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Mr. Itzchaki (Israel): My delegation wishes to exercise its right of reply on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.29, entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”. The spirit of cooperation essential for peace is being undermined and strained by the introduction of this draft resolution. It is contentious, divisive and one-sided. Resolutions regarding the complex arms control reality in the Middle East should focus on ways to enhance confidence, not undermine it. This biased draft resolution neglects the fact that the real risk of proliferation in the Middle East emanates from countries that, despite being States parties to international treaties, do not comply with their relevant international obligations. These countries are engaged in ongoing efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

In addition, the text submitted to the First Committee has undergone changes and now contains harsher language in relation to Israel. This draft resolution singles out Israel in a manner in which no other country is singled out in the First Committee. Moreover, it undermines the achievement of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons because it takes out of context the delicate balance in which this document was adopted. Israel urges every country and every Member of the United Nations to vote against this draft resolution.

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Mr. Khairat (Egypt): I am asking for the floor to respond to the statement by the delegation of Israel regarding draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.29. The draft resolution is not of a confrontational nature but is rather to prompt Israel to accede to the same internationally legally binding non-proliferation commitments as all other States of the region have done — indeed, as 182 States have done — and to refrain from any action which could undermine regional and international peace and security. In doing so the draft resolution faithfully reflects the consensus reached just five months ago on the importance of universal adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East and of Israel’s accession to the Treaty, a consensus that was shared by all States parties to the Treaty. The draft resolution conveys the concern of the international community over the continued presence of unsafeguarded nuclear activities in the Middle East and the risk of nuclear proliferation in the region resulting therefrom. This issue is of particular importance and priority today, since all countries in the Middle East except Israel have become parties to the Treaty and have put their nuclear activities under the comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

The Chairman: The Committee will meet again on Wednesday, 25 October, at 3 p.m. in Conference Room 1 to begin the third phase of our work.

The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.