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

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-fifth session

First Committee

22nd meeting

Thursday, 25 October 2000, 3 p.m.

New York

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

The meeting was called to order at 3.35 p.m.

Agenda items 65 to 81

Action on all draft resolutions submitted under all items

The Chairman: As I mentioned on Monday, 23 October 2000, this afternoon the Committee will proceed to take action on draft resolutions that appear in informal working paper No. 1 in the following sequence: cluster 1, nuclear weapons, draft resolutions A/C.1/55/L.7, A/C.1/55/L.8, A/C.1/55/L.36, A/C.1/55/L.40/Rev.1 and A/C.1/55/L.45/Rev.1. In addition, if there is no objection, the Committee will take action on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16, entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East”. I see no objection.

It was so decided.

/…

Mr. Khairat (Egypt): The delegation of Egypt wishes to explain its vote on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.18 before action is taken on the draft resolution.

Egypt has traditionally supported all measures leading to the promotion of international and regional stability and has always committed itself to engage in constructive action in the fulfilment of that obligation. It is in that spirit that we cannot but sympathize with the general thrust of draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.18, as it addresses a good instrument which aims at prohibiting a whole category of weapons of mass destruction, namely, chemical weapons, thus giving the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) effective impact in the field of disarmament, as opposed to non-proliferation.

Nevertheless, Egypt would like to stress once again its well-known position vis-à-vis the Convention and its implications in the Middle East region. Our commitment, explained vividly, to the prohibition of chemical weapons and all weapons of mass destruction is best exemplified by President Mubarak’s 1990 initiative on the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction, underscoring the following elements: first, a total prohibition in the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction without exception, be they nuclear, chemical or biological; and, secondly, that all States in the region should make a solemn declaration, without exception, of reciprocal commitment and obligation in this regard.

That prompted the Security Council to support our initiative, as mentioned in its resolution 687 (1991) and in the Security Council statement of 1992. In July 1991 Foreign Minister Amre Moussa, in his letter addressed to the Secretary-General, explained that priority must be given to freeing the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction and to increasing the security of the States of the region with a lower level of armament, as well as to the realization of equal and reciprocal security for all States in the region, not through a qualitative edge, nor through military superiority, but through dialogue, negotiations and a deep commitment to peace, equality and security for all.

Although Egypt participated actively in the long and arduous negotiations which took place in the Conference on Disarmament and which led to the elaboration of the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, its position has been voiced since day one, at the time of the Convention’s opening for signature in January 1993 at the Paris Conference. Indeed, our position emanates from and is firmly based on our regional considerations and concerns. For a long time now, Israel has been repeatedly stating on different occasions and in various forums that the application of this Convention should include all States in the Middle East region within a mutually accepted verification mechanism. In all frankness, I have to admit that, for once, we are not at odds with what Israel here seems to advocate or state as its aspirations. The Government of Egypt shares that view. However, it is the wider spectrum that is important, not limited only to chemical weapons or to biological weapons, but including both together, along with the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to which all States of the Middle East are parties with the exception of Israel, which continues to refuse to join the Treaty or to place all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) full-scope safeguards.

Despite all these considerations, my delegation did not request a recorded vote on this draft resolution. However, we do not consider ourselves to be part of any consensus decision that will be taken on this draft resolution today and would like to register our reservation on the content and letter of the operative paragraphs in the draft.

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Mr. Bar (Israel): Israel once again joined the consensus on draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.18, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction”. Israel signed the Convention and participated actively in the Preparatory Commission in order to shape the Convention into a workable mechanism. By signing the Convention Israel reflected its moral vision and commitment to a world free of chemical weapons. We reaffirm that commitment. On signing the Convention in January 1993, Israel expressed its hope that other countries in the region would soon follow suit. Among those are countries that are known for their use of chemical weapons in the past and are believed to continuously strive to improve their chemical capabilities. Unfortunately, none of those countries has either signed or ratified the Convention, or expressed any intention to do so. Therefore, Israel believes that the issue of chemical disarmament, as well as the issue of other weapons of mass destruction, should be dealt with within the regional context.

The reason Israel has not yet ratified the Convention relates to Israel’s unique geopolitical environment. At the signing ceremony of the CWC in 1993, Israel made it clear that it would seek to ratify the Convention subject, inter alia, to regional security concerns. These considerations remain no less valid today, as these concerns have not diminished but have only increased.

The fact that Israel joined the consensus on this draft resolution must not be construed as prejudging the outcome of Israel’s decision on the ratification of the CWC. Once again Israel reaffirms its view that positive changes in the security climate in the Middle East will be a major consideration for Israel regarding the ratification issue.

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Mr. Lin Kuo-chung (Secretary of the Committee): For tomorrow’s programme and action, informal working paper No. 2/Rev.1 has already been distributed. However, in cluster 1, nuclear weapons, there is a mistake in the title of draft resolution A/C.1/55/L.16. The title should be “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”.

The meeting rose at 5.05 p.m.