2005 Review Conference to Non-Proliferation Treaty – Nuclear-free-zone in the Mideast – Report by France

Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

New York, 26 April-7 May 2004

Report on the Middle East — pursuant to paragraph 16 (7) of the section on Article VII in the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference — concerning the steps taken by France to promote the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction and the realization of the goals and objectives of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East

  France reaffirms its support for the objectives of the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference.

  It calls for the implementation of that resolution by all the States concerned in order to progress towards a lasting peace in the Middle East and the creation in the region of a zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Hence the following statement, made by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs at a news conference on the Middle East, on 30 April 2003:

  “The multilateral non-proliferation regime should apply to the whole region. It must be backed up by the definition of a new regional security framework based on confidence-building and non-aggression measures. The proposal for an area free of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, presented by President Mubarak and based on United Nations Security Council resolution 687 (1991), provides a solid basis in this respect.”

  France has seized every opportunity at the bilateral and multilateral levels to stress the importance of the following measures:

  –   Establishment of a dialogue among all States in the region to restore lasting peace and stability in the Middle East;

  –   Compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation commitments made by all the States parties to the NPT;

  –   Cessation of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the region;

  –   Accession by all States to the relevant multilateral instruments, notably the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Biological Weapons Convention, and adherence by all States to the Hague Code of Conduct (ICOC);

  –   Adoption of comprehensive safeguards by all States which have committed themselves to doing so, and placing of all nuclear facilities in the region under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards;

  –   Adoption and implementation by all States in the region of an IAEA Additional Protocol;

  –   Elimination of existing stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons and of proliferating ballistic programmes;

  –   Strengthening of national measures to control exports of goods and technologies that may be used to develop weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems;

  –   Prevention of the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems;

  –   Adherence by all regional States to the G8 principles adopted at Kananaskis;

  –   Identification and securing of all hazardous radiation sources in the region.

  France will continue to work, in all the relevant forums and with all the States and partners concerned, towards the achievement of the objectives of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, particularly in the light of the present crisis in the region.

  As it recalled in the General Debate, the European Union supports the objective of universality of the NPT. It recalls that, as far as the Middle East is concerned, this applies to Israel.

  Through the process of dialogue between European countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran, France has encouraged actions aimed at restoring confidence, thus preserving the objectives of the 1995 resolution. It welcomes the signing and implementation by Iran of an Additional Protocol and encourages full cooperation with IAEA, as well as a rapid ratification of that Additional Protocol.

  It also welcomes the progress made in the case of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, in particular the following steps taken by that country: the dismantling of military nuclear programme components; corrective action conducted in cooperation with IAEA to ensure full compliance with the NPT and the comprehensive safeguards agreement; the signing and implementation of an Additional Protocol; the ratification of the CTBT; the accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention; and the effective elimination of existing chemical weapons stockpiles and of ballistic programmes with a range exceeding 300 km.

  France encourages Iraq to make commitments reflecting its willingness to comply with the 1995 resolution, once it has recovered its sovereignty.