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

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-fifth session

First Committee

12th meeting

Thursday, 12 October 2000, 3 p.m.

New York

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

In the absence of the Chairman, Mr. Mesdoua (Algeria), Vice-Chairman, took the Chair.

The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m.

Agenda items 65 to 81 (continued)

General debate on all disarmament and international security items

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Mr. Al-Malki (Bahrain) (spoke in Arabic):  …

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There is no doubt that regional security is closely intertwined with international security. Therefore, the security and stability of the Middle East and the Arab Gulf require the building of confidence among political entities there. This can be achieved by seriously considering turning the area into an area free of weapons of mass destruction.

Israel’s refusal to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to place its nuclear installations under the full-scope safeguards regime of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) creates a serious imbalance, poses a grave risk to regional security in the Middle East, and compromises the Treaty’s universality, despite the fact that more than a quarter of a century has elapsed since it entered into force. This is a blatant flouting of the will of the international community in this respect; numerous demands by the international community have been to no avail. What Israel has achieved by using its light and heavy weapons against defenceless Palestinians and the martyrdom of the Palestinian child, Mohammed Al-Durra, in full view of the whole world, is clear evidence of Israel’s abusive use of its internal forces, let alone its threat that it is capable of entering into a war with its neighbours in which it will triumph.

All the above confirms that Israel’s military force is not defensive or for deterrence purposes only, but is a destructive, aggressive force to which Israel may have recourse at any time. Testimony to that is what is taking place today. We cannot fail here to refer to the unjustified acts perpetrated against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, whose victims are innocent citizens.

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Mr. Shobokshi (Saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic):  …

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The Kingdom also commended the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in 1996, which affirmed that all countries should be committed to continue the negotiations for the total elimination of nuclear weapons under tight and effective international supervision. It also actively participated in the efforts of the Arab League to formulate a treaty to make the Middle East an area free of weapons of mass destruction.

All these efforts and positions are true proof of the good intentions of Saudi Arabia regarding disarmament and international security issues, in addition to creating an international environment free from nuclear and other destructive weapons.

The success in establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones in certain areas of the world as a result of cooperation between the countries involved, and their belief in peaceful coexistence, is a positive step towards creating a world free from weapons of mass destruction. Regrettably, the Middle East is not free from nuclear weapons, because Israel still refuses to adhere to calls from the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to desist from developing, producing and testing nuclear weapons. Israel also refuses to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or to subject its nuclear facilities to the IAEA safeguards system. It also shows no enthusiasm whatsoever for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. Thus, Israel remains the only country in the region to possess nuclear and chemical weapons that are not subject to international supervision.

The Israeli position contradicts its pronouncements in favour of peace. Real peace should be founded on trust and good intentions among the countries and peoples of the region, and not on the possession of nuclear weapons, the threat to use them and attempts to impose its hegemonic will on other countries. These policies not only result in creating instability in the region, but also threaten international peace and security.

Accordingly, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls upon Israel, the only country in the region that has not yet acceded to the NPT, to take the necessary steps to do so immediately, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. All Israeli nuclear activities should be subjected to the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards until the Middle East is free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

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The meeting rose at 5.45 p.m.