Arab experts meet to discuss regional nuclear arms treaty
Regional, Politics, 7/29/1997

A committee grouping 22 experts from the Arab League began meeting in Cairo (Egypt) to forge an accord on eliminating all types of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms, from the Middle East.

"Arab foreign ministers decided in 1994 to form this committee to finalize a treaty project and to permit all countries in the Middle East, including Israel and Iran, to adhere to it, once a comprehensive peace has been established in the region," committee president Mahmoud Karem told reporters.

Karem, who is also director of the disarmament department at the Egyptian foreign ministry, said that during the committee's five previous meetings progress had been made in completing a treaty.

This latest two-day meeting is aimed at developing a verification mechanism to assure that countries are abiding by the treaty for eliminating nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, he said.

"The Arab countries are committed to working to establish a just and global peace in the Middle East, without letting any party impose its concept of security," Karem said.

Israel, which does not adhere to the international Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, is considered by foreign weapons experts to have several nuclear bombs.

In response, countries such as Egypt and Syria have refused to ratify the international convention on the elimination of chemical weapons.

Iran and Iraq are also suspected of trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.

An Arab league Ad Hoc committee assigned to prepare a draft regional treaty for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction began meetings on July 28 in presence of military, political and legal delegates from some Arab countries.

Addressing the meetings held at the Arab League building here, Assistant Secretary for Political Affairs Mohammed Zakariah lsamail asserted the need for focusing on dangers posed to the Arab countries as result of Israel's unilateral possession of nuclear arms and the threats to peace and security in the region.

He accused Israel of using nuclear weapons as a means to blackmail the Arabs and win a peace settlement satisfying her ambitions in Arab wealth and national territories.

The official urged utmost pressure against Israel to adhere to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and to open her nuclear facilities before international inspection.

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search