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

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-third session

First Committee

17th meeting

Wednesday, 27 October 1998, 10 a.m.

New York

President:  Mr. Mernier …………………………(Belgium)

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

Agenda items 63 to 79 (continued)

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

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Mr. Al-Nasser (Qatar) (interpretation from Arabic): As this is the first time I have spoken in the Committee, it is a great pleasure for me to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the chairmanship of the Committee. I am convinced that with your competence and knowledge we will attain the best results.

Qatar has had opportunity already to stress the sincere desire to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction, as the Foreign Minister of my country once again emphasized during his statement to the General Assembly on 25 September 1998. All the Arab States share this goal, but obstacles arise from Israel's refusal to cooperate with the international community and the States in the region. Our Minister stated:

“Israel is the only nuclear-weapon State in the region and the only State that has so far refused to sign the treaties relevant to the prohibition of such weapons and the prevention of their proliferation. If it persists, this situation will lead to tension and the repercussions arising from the imbalance of power it causes. Therefore, in our view, it is necessary and imperative to take concrete steps to eliminate these weapons from the region, so as to avoid the risks of launching an arms race that would further destabilize in the region.” (A/53/PV.16, p. 31)

The creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone, especially in tense areas in the Middle East, on the basis of arrangements adopted among the countries of the region under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would strengthen peace and security both regionally and internationally. The report of the Secretary-General entitled “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”, in document A/53/457, is strengthened by a resolution entitled “Applications of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in the Middle East”, which provides a framework for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. This resolution, GC(42)RES/21, was adopted by the General Conference of the IAEA on 25 September 1998. In paragraph 3 it calls upon all parties concerned to take the practical and appropriate steps required to implement the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

The desire of Member States of the region to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone is in conformity with the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, devoted to disarmament, and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the General Conference of the IAEA, especially GC(41)RES/25, adopted on 3 October 1997.

The Secretary-General in his report A/53/379 welcomed the fact that all Arab States have acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and are working towards the early establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

Attaining a framework for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is closely linked to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. The durability of peace depends on the reformulation of strategic balances on a sound basis.

In conclusion, the State of Qatar will do its utmost to support the efforts towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and invites all countries to further their efforts along these lines and to consider the relevant measures for the application and creation of this zone in order to establish a just and comprehensive peace in the region, to strive for a world free of wars and of weapons of mass destruction in the near future, until people can work for development, progress and prosperity in the service of all mankind.

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The meeting rose at 11 a.m.