IAEA safeguards in the Middle East – Director-General’s report – Addendum 2`

Item 20 of the Conference's provisional agenda

(GC(46)/1)

APPLICATION OF IAEA SAFEGUARDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Report by the Director General

Addendum

1. Paragraph 20 of the Report of the Director General to the Board of Governors and to the General Conference with regard to the application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East (GOV/2002/34-GC(46)/9) refers to three responses received (from Egypt, Iraq and Israel) to the Secretariat's proposal for an agenda for a forum on "Experience relevant to the creation of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East".  An additional response received from Jordan was issued as GOV/2002/34/Add.1-GC(46)/9/Add.1.

2. A further response has now been received from the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait and is reproduced herewith.

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GOV/2002/34/Add.2-GC(46)/9/Add.2

Annex

TEXT OF THE LETTER FROM THE

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE STATE OF KUWAIT

ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

[Received on 13 September 2002]

With regard to your proposal to hold a forum on "Experience relevant to the creation of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East", I should like to express my country's views on the subject:

– Kuwait has always been keen to support the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East as a first stage towards achieving the wider and more comprehensive objective of establishing a region free of weapons of mass destruction, be they nuclear, chemical, biological or ballistic;

– The compliance of all States in the region – without exception – with the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the fulfilment by States of their obligations under this treaty are the main factors necessary for the establishment of a NWFZ in the Middle East;

– Kuwait supports, in principle, the holding of the forum. When arrangements are made for the forum, emphasis should be placed on the development of practical concepts which could be implemented in order to establish a NWFZ. It also supports the idea of using practical experience gained in other NWFZs worldwide, taking into account the political and security differences between those regions and the Middle East.  At the same time, we propose that the experience of the relevant specialized institutions and organizations in this region should be used to ensure that the forum's objectives are more comprehensive and that the views raised are more diversified.

Finally, I should like to thank you for your efforts in this regard.

12 September 2002