Egypt : credibility of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty lacking by Israel's noncompliance

Sayed Qassem El Masri, Adviser to Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, in statements Saturday on the sidelines of the 2000 NPT revision conference currently in session in New York, expressed belief that the requirements of security and stability in the Middle East region entail that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty become universal.

He warned that failure, on the part of the conference, to seriously address the nuclear question in the Middle East and the demand that Israel joins the NPT, or at least to declare its intention to do so, would both affect the Treaty's credibility and regional security and stability.

Masri regretted the fact that since the 1995 NPT revision conference no significant progress had been made in terms of the objectives set by signatory states.

"The international community has been unable to ban the proliferation of nuclear weapons in south Asia," he said.

The Egyptian official also cited Israel's rejection to sign the NPT as another challenge to the credibility of the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation regime.