2000 Review Conference to Non-Proliferation Treaty – Nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Mideast – Report by Sweden

New York, 28 April-9 May 2003

Report on steps taken to promote the achievement of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free from nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction, and the realisation of the goals and objectives of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East

Report submitted by Sweden

1. In the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in the section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", paragraph 16 on "Regional Issues", subparagraph 7, it is stated that:

2. "The Conference requests all States parties, particularly the nuclear-weapon States, the States of the Middle East and other interested States, to report through the United Nations Secretariat to the President of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as to the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee meetings to be held in advance of that Conference, on the steps that they have taken to promote the achievement of such a zone (i.e. a Middle East zone free from nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction, our remark) and the realisation of the goals and objectives of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East."

3. Sweden would hereby like to communicate the following information regarding the realisation of the goals and objectives of the Resolution.

(i) Endorses aims and objectives of Middle East peace process and recognises that efforts in this regard, as well as other efforts, contribute to, inter alia, a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction.

Sweden supports negotiations for a just, enduring and comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East, based on Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and the principles derived from successive agreements between the parties. We support the efforts of the Quartet and would like the "road map" to be published and implemented without delay. Sweden is strongly committed to the need for a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. This goal could be promoted in several ways, for example, by making full use of the confidence-building measures that exist within the framework of the EU Mediterranean co-operation (the Barcelona Process) and by establishing mechanisms for transparent and reliable verification in order to destroy the weapons of mass destruction in the region. Regarding Iraq, at present, the IAEA is the sole organisation, with legal powers derived from the NPT and the United Nations Security Council resolutions, to verify Iraq's nuclear disarmament. Inspections still need to be completed in order to resolve remaining questions about Iraq's nuclear programme. In regard to possible other weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, UNMOVIC is the sole organisation, with legal powers derived from the United Nations Security Council resolutions, to verify Iraq's disarmament.

(ii) Calls on the remaining State not party to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept IAEA safeguards.

Sweden continues to emphasise the importance of universal accession and adherence to the NPT. We call upon Israel to sign and ratify the NPT and to place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.

(iii) Notes the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded facilities and urges those countries that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities to accept full-scope IAEA safeguards.

Sweden fully supports full scope safeguards and the strengthened safeguards system with the additional protocols. Sweden remains concerned with the existence of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities in the region. We urge all States in the Middle East that have not yet done so to conclude and bring into force additional protocols with the IAEA.

(iv) Reaffirms importance of the early realisation of universal adherence to the NPT, and calls upon all States in the Middle East that have not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the NPT as soon as possible and to place their nuclear facilities under full-scope IAEA safeguards.

See answer under paragraph 2.

(v) Calls upon all States in the Middle East to take practical steps in appropriate fora to make progress towards, inter alia, the establishment of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological, and their delivery systems, and to refrain from measures that preclude the achievement of this objective.

Sweden is strongly committed to the establishment of zones free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. Sweden voted in favour of resolution 57/55 entitled “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, which was adopted by the 57th United Nations General Assembly.

(vi) Call upon all States parties to the NPT, and in particular the nuclear-weapons States, to extend co-operation and support efforts towards the early establishment by regional parties of a Middle East zone free of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

Sweden continues to support the establishment of regional nuclear weapon free zones.

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