Arabs seek to clear Mideast from weapons of mass destruction

Originally published February 3, 1999

An Arab weapons committee called Tuesday on Arab states to coordinate to ensure the listing of removal of weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East in the preparatory committee of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty's (CTBT) Conference.

The chairman of the committee, assigned with drafting a regional treaty on clearing the Middle East, Egyptian Mahmoud Karem said coordination was essential, especially after Israel refused to join CTBT.

Karem, head of the disarmament affairs department at Egypt's Foreign Ministry, told reporters that Arabs should rally international support to make Israel join the treaty.

The CTBT conference will be held in New York during April.

The treaty was established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).