Official Records
General Assembly
Fifty-sixth session
86th plenary meeting
Friday, 14 December 2001, 10 a.m.
New York
|
President: |
Han Seung-soo ……………………………………………………………….. |
(Republic of Korea) |
The meeting was called to order at 10.10 a.m.
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Agenda item 14 (continued)
Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency
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Mr. Govrin (Israel): Israel attaches great importance to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to the tradition of consensus in this Organization.
The report of the IAEA, which reflects the work of the Agency, taking into consideration efforts made by the Members of the Organization to promote the important tasks of the Agency, should also reflect agreed language. Unfortunately, the wording of paragraph 10 of the draft resolution on the report of the IAEA does not reflect that cooperative spirit.
The draft resolutions on the application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East have been adopted by consensus since 1991. Their language represents a delicate balance reached after long and difficult negotiations aimed at achieving consensus. Israel has joined that consensus because we support the goal of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East in due course, notwithstanding certain reservations regarding the modalities.
Paragraph 10 of the draft resolution on the IAEA report represents the General Conference resolution on the application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East in a selective and unbalanced way. Paragraph 10 contains some components from the resolution, but ignores others. This attempt to introduce a new interpretation of the compromise consensus resolution on the Middle East is unacceptable, and may damage the common understanding required for reaching consensus on this issue.
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The meeting rose at 12.45 p.m.
Document Type: Meeting record
Document Sources: General Assembly
Subject: Arms control and regional security issues
Publication Date: 14/12/2001