Arab League warns against Israeli armament programs

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid said that Middle East peace requires an assertion made by Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak to abide by giving it a push forward according to Madrid conference principles.

Speaking before the second symposium on international humanitarian law and control on armament which he opened in Cairo earlier in the day, the AL chief stated that the Israeli nuclear armament program constitutes a great concern due to its adverse impact on the environment and the strategic balance in the region. He warned against this program is outside international regulations.

Abdul Meguid added that Israel's position in refusing to join the NPT and to subjugate its nuclear institutions to investigations adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency constitutes a great concern to the Arab states, a matter which would affect prospects for coexistence and peace in the region.

Concerning the international conference on searching for preparation for carry out the provisions of the fourth Geneva Convention on the occupied Arab territories which will be held in the middle of the next month, the AL chief called for work to follow up the mechanism of implementing the agreement, in which the International Red Crescent is taking part, to ensure its full implementation in the Middle East.