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

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-fifth session

First Committee

11th meeting

Thursday, 11 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)

General debate on all disarmament and international security items

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Mr. Jerandi (Tunisia) (spoke in French):  …

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… With respect to the Middle East, the commitment of the States of the region remains blocked by Israel, which refuses to accede to the NPT and to submit its nuclear installations to the comprehensive safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, despite the numerous appeals of other States of the region and of the General Assembly in its many resolutions devoted to this question, as well as those of the States parties to the NPT at the last Review Conference.

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Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic):  …

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The Syrian Arab Republic has strongly endorsed the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones all over the world. From this position, and given the extremely sensitive character of the Middle East region, the Syrian Arab Republic tries to keep the region free of a nuclear arms race. But Israel alone refuses to accede to the NPT. It also refuses to subject its nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) comprehensive safeguards system. Israel’s nuclear positions and policies enjoy the support of some major Powers, which have enabled it to manufacture and acquire nuclear weapons under untenable and completely illogical pretexts.

It is relevant to recall here that the Israeli nuclear danger not only threatens peace and security in the Middle East region, but also endangers Africa, some Asian States and even some European countries. Information published in the United States of America and in many countries suggests that Israel’s arsenal of nuclear weapons contains more than 300 missiles of different sizes and capabilities and bombs loaded with various chemical and biological agents. Moreover, Israel has new delivery systems that make it possible for these weapons to reach targets more than 3,000 kilometres away. This means that Israel is overloaded with nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction and with the most advanced aircraft for the delivery of these weapons.

Policies based on double-standards in dealing with countries are unacceptable. It is unacceptable that this one State enjoys all forms of support and protection and is provided with the most advanced technology and weapons, especially nuclear weapons, while even simple technology is denied to other countries that need such nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, especially for development purposes.

Now more than ever the international community is called upon to pressure Israel and to urge it to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to subject all its nuclear installations to the IAEA comprehensive safeguards system. It is essential to bring all forms of pressure to bear on Israel to force it to abandon its aggressive military policies, which include acquiring nuclear weapons. Israel must be forced to end its occupation of Arab territories and to stop threatening peace and security — not only in our region but throughout the world.

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The Syrian Arab Republic follows closely the question of transparency in armaments as a whole. In this area, Syria strongly supports the response given by the Arab group and believes that Member States should take into consideration Arab concerns when that important aspect of the United Nations work is discussed, so that the United Nations Register would include weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. Moreover, it must take into account the situation in the Middle East, the occupation by Israel of Arab territories, Israel’s acquisition of nuclear weapons and its refusal to subject its nuclear installations to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s comprehensive safeguards system, while Arab States do not possess any such weapons.

Israel’s military capabilities pose a mounting threat to the situation in the Middle East and to global peace and security. During this period, Israel has become a great depot for the most advanced, lethal weapons, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

The military budget report for the years 1998/1999 issued by the International Institute of Strategic Studies states that Israel has probably become the sixth largest military Power in the world. Israel has about 700,000 troops, 4,300 tanks, 6,650 artillery pieces and over 500 modern military aircraft and 137 helicopter gunships, five submarines, an unknown number of advanced long-range and short-range rockets, as well as radar-jamming electronic equipment and unmanned surveillance planes.

All Arabs and all peace-loving people look forward to the curtailment of the Israeli military effort. Sowing the seeds of hope and moving mankind a step forward towards progress would require serious effort in the area of disarmament. This noble goal cannot be met without the genuine political will, strict compliance with international treaties and instruments and abandoning of the policy of double standards. Sincere and tireless efforts in this regard would bring us closer to our noble goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and the destruction of other lethal weapons of mass destruction in order to save our nations from the dire consequences of wars that have claimed the lives of over five million people in the last decade.

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Mr. Al-Hassan (Oman) (spoke in Arabic):  …

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Despite all the efforts, both global and regional, to establish durable peace and coexistence amongst peoples, Israeli nuclear dangle a sword of Damocles threatening international peace and security, and create concern that undermine the opportunities for establishing a durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Proceeding from that premise, my country welcomes the recommendations of the recent Review Conference on the NPT, which call on all States in the region that have not yet acceded to the NPT to immediately join it and to place all their nuclear installations in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards regime.

I wish to confirm that the NPT and its universality and credibility depend, in the first place, on the steps to be taken by the countries that have deposited their instruments and that should give safeguards and guarantees to the rest of the States so that they can accede to the Treaty. In accordance with my country’s firm interest in establishing lasting peace in the Middle East, we have spared no effort to attain this noble goal. In this respect, we again welcome Egypt’s initiative to turn the Middle East into a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. We consider this initiative a natural step towards achieving peace in the area and fulfilling the aspirations of the international community.

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The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.