IAEA safeguards in the Middle East – Director-General’s report – Addendum 1

Item 6(b) of the Board's provisional agenda

(GOV/2002/38)

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".

2. A further response has now been received from the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is reproduced herewith.

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

Annex

TEXT OF THE LETTER FROM THE

EMBASSY OF THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN

ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

[Received on 28 August 2002]

Ref.No.: VAA/2/331

Vienna, August 28th, 2002

With reference to the Agency's letter of 16 May, 2002 addressed to the Arab Group and to Forum Proposal contained in document GOV/2002/34-GC (49) Annex 1, please find hereunder the position of my country .

As I indicated in my letter to you of 3 May, of last year, Jordan views the convening of a Forum to discuss the creation of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East (ME) as an important event which will benefit all parties involved. I am particularly pleased to see that some of the ideas contained in my above mentioned letter are included in the proposed topics for discussion. However, it is of immense importance to note that the adherence of all regional parties to the international non-proliferation regime is the best measure for confidence and security building in the region. Hence, the proposed forum should address this issue within the overall context of the application of IAEA safeguards and the conclusion of a NWFZ in the Middle East. The Forum should also explore ways and means of realizing these goals, namely; achieving full-scope IAEA safeguards and NWFZ in the ME.

In my country's view the Forum should concentrate not only on the theoretical framework, but also on the practical steps and procedures to establish a NWFZ in the ME.

In this context experiences of other regional groups will be valuable in so far as they relate to and reflect on the realities and complications of the ME. Thus regional experiences should be focussed and geared towards the overall goals of the Forum in order for lessons learned to be of assistance to the countries of the ME. The same care should also apply to the selection of speakers as well as to the IGOs and NGOs to be invited in order to ensure the broadest possible participation.

I look forward for continued consultation with the Agency to finalize the agenda and the list of participants.

[Ambassador ]